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 word)<\/p>\n
Storm series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Return to England <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Love Lost, Destiny Found<\/strong><\/p>\n CHAPTER 1<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAdam you believe me, don\u2019t you?\u00a0You\u00a0<\/em>believe it wasn\u2019t my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course it wasn\u2019t your fault Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why is papa so angry with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just worried about your mama that\u2019s all.\u201dAdam held Storm while she cried. Surely Matt wouldn\u2019t blame his daughter for what had happened. She was only ten years old.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, come here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMatt maybe it would be best\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Ben, Adam. Storm come here!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben knew that he and his son had just been dismissed; he also knew his son wouldn\u2019t leave that easily.<\/p>\n Storm walked slowly to where her father stood. She had never feared her father, because even when he had been angry with her before she knew he loved her, but she feared him now. \u201cPapa how is mama?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s dead Storm. She\u2019s dead and it\u2019s all your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMATT.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s my daughter Adam! MINE! I will handle this my way. Now you go to your room Storm and think about what you allowed to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes papa.\u201d Storm ran to her room and laid on her bed and cried. Surely papa was wrong, mama couldn\u2019t be dead.<\/p>\n \u201cMatt, she\u2019s just a child.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ben, but she could have run for help. She could have tried to get me. How I wish she were dead instead of Skye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t mean that Matt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t I Ben? Don\u2019t tell me there was never a time you wished one of your wives were still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot if it meant I would have to trade one of my sons!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, your sons. You have sons. What do I have? Skye would have given me wonderful, strong sons, if she was still alive, but she\u2019s not and it\u2019s all her fault.\u201d<\/p>\n They saw him look towards the room they could all clearly hear Storm crying from.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we should take Storm to stay with us for a while.\u201d Adam headed towards Storm\u2019s bedroom. Hoping that Matt\u2019s apparent hatred for his daughter would ease as his grief did. Maybe if she were away from him he would realize just how much he truly did love and need her.<\/p>\n \u201cNO! Adam she is my daughter!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFINE!\u201d Adam only relented because he knew Storm would never go against her father, at least not now. \u201cIf you hurt her\u2026\u2026\u201d He let the threat go unfinished knowing Matt understood. He then approached the door to Storm\u2019s room.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm if you need anything you know where I am.\u201d He saw the door open a crack, just enough so that she could see him. He wanted to hold her and dry her tears but was afraid Matt might take it out on her.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam I know.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Adam reluctantly left and headed back to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n \u201cPa he can\u2019t really blame Storm for what happened. She was only doing what Skye told her to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSon, I\u2019m sure, given time Matt will soon realize there was nothing that Storm could have done. In no time at all he\u2019ll remember she\u2019s his daughter and that he loves her.\u201d<\/p>\n This was one of the very few times that Ben Cartwright would be proven wrong. It would take more time than he could ever imagine. Matthew Kendall was a man whose heart had been so hardened by the loss of his wife it became incapable of feeling love for his daughter. In his defense he never raised a hand to Storm, but then he never offered her one either. She would spend whatever time she could at the Ponderosa. Perhaps that\u2019s the reason her father\u2019s indifference never touched her soul. She spent much of her time trying to be the son her father had wanted, the one he had said his wife hadn\u2019t had a chance to give him because of her. The older she got, the harder that became. It was hard to be taken seriously as a man\u2019s equal in what were usually considered to be manly endeavors when she began to look more and more like a woman. In spite of this Storm never stopped trying.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was tired; it had been a very long day following a very long night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll help with the branding.\u201d Storm could tell Adam was tired and she wanted to help him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Adam I always help you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you\u2019re not a child anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was last year! I helped last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe Adam knew where she was last night because she knew where he had been.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was last year, this is this year Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, why don\u2019t you come and help me over here.\u201d Ben offered as he knew Storm either didn\u2019t understand or, more likely, didn\u2019t want to understand what Adam was trying to say. He knew she felt if she started to believe and started acting like the young woman she was becoming, she would never please her father. In the five years that had passed since her mother\u2019s death, earning her father\u2019s approval and love were the things that drove Storm the most. Ben could still remember the night almost two years ago that Storm had come to them fearing she was dying. It was one of the few times he could recall seeing everyone of his son\u2019s faces turn red, he had even felt a slight color go into his. Luckily Mrs. Keyes was able to put that fear to rest by explaining to Storm that what was happening was just a natural part of becoming a woman. That proved to be one of the worst things Storm could have been told. From that time on she tried even harder to best every man she could. It was as if she believed that by excelling in any unwomanly task she could delay the inevitable.<\/p>\n CHAPTER 2<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGood evening Miss. Kendall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you\u2019re being silly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAm I? I hadn\u2019t realized I\u2019d done anything that was silly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell you have. You never call me Miss. Kendall\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how I address every young woman I am going to ask if she would allow me the honor of dancing with her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you asking me to dance?\u201d \u201c<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched as Adam led Storm onto the floor. He had noticed quite a change in Storm this past year. It had all started that day that Adam had told her she couldn\u2019t help with the branding. Ben remembered that he knew it would take more than his abilities to explain all that had come up that day to Storm. He had no experience when it came to young ladies; after all he only had sons. Once again he had turned to Mrs. Keyes. Thinking on it now he smiled. He had asked Storm to come and help him and she had grudgingly done so. Ben had always felt more to please Adam then him.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, Adam just doesn\u2019t want you to get hurt.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n I never have before.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ben was willing to try his hand at finding a way to help Storm accept what was happening, to help make her embrace it. He would appeal to the female that was in her even if she tried to deny its presence. He had only managed to raise more questions.<\/em><\/p>\n “Storm do you wish for every man to see you as a child? Don\u2019t you hope someday to have one see you as the beautiful woman you\u2019re sure to become?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou mean like courtin\u2019 and stuff?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYes like courtin\u2019 and stuff.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSome of the girls at school have beaus. They say that kissin\u2019 feels nice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo long as it goes no further.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFurther?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s when he knew he was very glad to have had only sons. He found he wasn\u2019t prepared to discuss this with Storm. He was about to try and change the subject when a very disturbing thought occurred to him. If he didn\u2019t find a way in helping Storm to understand about the rights and wrongs of relationships between men and women, who would? He knew that Matt wouldn\u2019t. He again turned to Mrs. Rebecca Keyes.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cStorm why don\u2019t we go for a little ride. There is someone who might be able to explain this a little better than I.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n When they approached Mrs. Keyes house, Ben asked Storm to wait on her horse until he came and got her. He wanted to make sure Rebecca was alright with what he was asking her to do.<\/em>\u00a0\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n Of course Ben. Tell her to come inside. That poor child, well, maybe not so poor she does have you and your sons to turn to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Storm stared at Mrs. Keyes as she explained what happened between men and women. She felt frightened to think that what she was being told was true and yet she found something buried deep inside her hoping it was true. She now understood why Ben had said he would wait for her outside.<\/em><\/p>\n “You mean that he\u2026\u2026that she\u2026.that they\u2026..Is this just another natural part of becoming a woman?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Again Rebecca found herself feeling sorry for Storm. Sometimes a girl needed a mother much more than she needed a father and, considering just how Storm\u2019s father acted, it was almost as if she had neither.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cStorm it can prove to be one of the more pleasing parts. When it\u2019s between two people who love each other and of course only after they are married.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n Rebecca quickly added that last detail.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut I thought you said it hurt?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOnly the first time. It is also the only way for you to have a baby. There are some who will have you believe that\u2019s the only reason for it\u2019s existence, but believe me Storm it can be so much more. When two people love each other the act of making love can be a way of saying how much you love each other without words in a way that words could never express. It\u2019s a way, if only for a short while, to cease being two separate people and become one soul, one heart.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Storm didn\u2019t understand why, but the entire time Mrs. Keyes was talking she was thinking about Adam. Ben had asked her if she wanted one man to see her as something other than a child. The answer was yes, she was beginning to feel that that one man was Adam. How though? She had spent her whole life trying to prove to everyone she wasn\u2019t a girl.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes will you help me?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHelp you what child?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLearn how to be a woman.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n From that day on Storm seemed to be trying to embrace her feminine side. Not that she still didn\u2019t try to best the boys around town; it just seemed that she was now realizing if done right they didn\u2019t seem to mind losing to her as much anymore.<\/em><\/p>\n As Storm and Adam danced, her father watched. There were times he almost regretted not being able to love his daughter, not being able to forgive her. At those times he found himself going to her and thinking maybe he would take her in his arms and tell her he was sorry. Then he would see her and see in her eyes or a simple gesture something that reminded him of his wife. He would remember seeing her body and that would reawaken all the rage and he would forget his regrets and only remember his loss. He could never seem to understand that he may have lost his wife that day, but Storm had lost her mother and her father. The music ended and Storm joined her friend, Marybeth, while Adam went to get them some punch.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would appear as if she\u2019s very happy Adam. Happier than I\u2018ve seen her in some time.\u201d Ben knew that was due in part to where she had just been and in part because she too must have noticed the slightest of changes in how his son looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know something pa, she\u2019s becoming a very lovely young lady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she is son. One sure to become a very beautiful woman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen did you want to see me about something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Matt. I\u2019m sure you are aware that next month will be Storm\u2019s sixteenth birthday. We have been talking it over and we would like to have a surprise party for her at the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n Actually Ben wasn\u2019t too sure\u00a0if<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Matt remembered. Every year for the past five Storm\u2019s birthday had been celebrated at the Ponderosa. The only reason Ben felt a need to get permission this time was because he wanted more than just he and his sons to help Storm celebrate.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s very kind of you but I\u2019m afraid it will be impossible. You see by that time we will be already on our way to England.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEngland! Storm hasn\u2019t mentioned anything about going to England.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because she doesn\u2019t know yet and I would prefer it if you didn\u2019t mention it to her. I have told you before Adam, she is my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure wouldn\u2019t know it by how you treat her!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe that as it may Adam, she is. I will ask you to not write to her but if you do I can assure you she will never read a word of any letter you may send. Storm!\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up at the sound of her father\u2019s voice and saw him standing with Ben and Adam. The nearer she got to them she could tell Adam was angry, she just couldn\u2019t think of a reason why. She hadn\u2019t done anything wrong and while Storm knew Adam didn\u2019t particularly agree with everything her father did, he would never put her in a position where she had to choose between them. She was very glad of this because she loved them both so very much that it would tear her apart if she ever had too.<\/p>\n \u201cYou called me papa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are going to leave now Storm so please go get your wrap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa.\u201d Storm had so hoped to have another chance to dance with Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Storm!\u201d<\/p>\n Another dance was what Matt was tying to prevent.<\/p>\n \u201cYes papa.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hated the way Matt seemed to be the only one who could dampen Storm\u2019s spirit.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam?\u201d She quickly turned back to them.<\/p>\n Maybe if he asked right now her father would be willing to allow them one more dance or maybe at least half of one.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I do.\u201d Now Storm was confused. What was Adam trying to tell her?<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to remember that I\u2019ll always be there for you. Will you do that for me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam, I\u2019ll remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthew wasted no time in telling his daughter of his plans. He felt a slight twinge of guilt when he saw the happiness in her eyes buried under the sadness his announcement made her feel, but it was quickly forgotten when the simple way in which she asked her next question reminded him of Skye.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy papa? Why do we have to go to England?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is about time you met my family, see where I was born and grew up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut we\u2019ll come back, right?\u201d<\/p>\n If lying to her would make it less of a struggle then he would lie.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Storm, we will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm thought that if she did this, if she didn\u2019t give her father any trouble and agreed to leave Virginia City, to leave Adam, then he would just have to love her. He had to know how much it would hurt her to leave, even if it were to be for only a little while.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright papa.\u201d<\/p>\n Alright, Matt thought? It was as if she thought he would give her a choice. He wasted no time after that. He made sure Storm would be kept busy packing up her things and putting the house in order. She believed it would be shut up only until their return but he had already made arrangements for it to be sold after they left.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm we leave tomorrow.\u201d He had waited until now to tell her. He had waited until he knew it would be too late.<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa I have to see Adam, I have to tell him goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is too late to start out for the Ponderosa and it will be too early tomorrow. You can write him a letter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm! I will hear no more about this. Now go to bed, we will have an early start tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes papa.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm lay silently in her bed. She didn\u2019t want to risk missing the slightest sound. Only after she was absolutely certain that her father was asleep did she attempt doing something she knew would anger him greatly if he found out. She got out of her bed and snuck out of her window. She just had to go and say goodbye to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what are you doing here at this hour?\u201d When Ben had heard the knock on the door he had jumped. Then he remembered that all his sons were home and that eased the fear that something had happened to one of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re leaving in the morning. If I didn\u2019t come now I wouldn\u2019t have been able to see you. I just had to come and say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cADAM.\u201d Ben knew it was him she wished to see the most. He thanked God that Adam had decided against going into town tonight. Afraid if he had, Storm would have followed him there.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe! Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n He knew his two other sons would be very upset if they didn\u2019t get to see Storm before she left.<\/p>\n \u201cHey what are you doin\u2019 here this late?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re leaving tomorrow Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be good to see you go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben knew this was his son\u2019s way of trying to hide the hurt, he was feeling but he knew that Storm was too upset to realize this.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Storm, I didn\u2019t mean it. I\u2019m gonna\u2019 miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you\u2019re gonna\u2019 miss more then me is all the homework answers I give you.\u201dBen saw his son look quickly at his feet. \u201cWe will discuss this later.\u201d Ben saw that Adam had finally come downstairs. So he gave Storm a hug and a kiss and his two youngest followed his lead and then followed him upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, papa says we will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam didn\u2019t believe that for one second but he could see that Storm needed to believe it. He knew it was the only thing that was making leaving bearable for her. He just couldn\u2019t let her know he didn\u2019t think he would ever see her again.<\/p>\n \u201cThen you will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I don\u2019t want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n He could tell she was pleading with him to find a way to keep her here but he knew of no way to accomplish that. He had spent many a sleepless night trying to.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want you to go either, but he is your father Storm.\u201d Lord knows he has told me this more times than I care to think of.<\/p>\n She ran to him. Maybe if he held her tight enough time would stop. Maybe her father would be so angry when he found she had gone he would leave without her and she could stay with Adam forever.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be alright Storm. Storm I want you to promise me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise me that you will always remember that I care for you. That I\u2019m always here for you no matter how it may appear. Will you promise me that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Now you had better get on home before Matt realizes you\u2019ve gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n He walked with her out of the house and he watched her ride away. He couldn\u2019t know that he would see her again, but then it would be him who needed her to make the pain the world can give go away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 3<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations Adam, Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s rather hard for me to believe that you are married.\u201d Perhaps, Rebecca Keyes thought, because the ceremony had taken place in San Francisco.<\/p>\n \u201cHard for me to believe as well.\u201d Adam pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her.<\/p>\n \u201cADAM. Not in front of everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Sometimes he would forget just how proper an upbringing his wife had had. He hoped in time she would be able to recognize that this was not San Francisco society, that she could ease the tight restraints she put on her emotions when in public because she had not such difficulties in private.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know who I found myself thinking about the other day Adam?\u201d Mrs. Keyes knew it was because of this party to celebrate Adam\u2019s marriage that she had thought of her.<\/p>\n \u201cWho Mrs. Keyes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm Kendall. She must be gone, what, four years now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I believe it\u2019s been four years Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n Emily noticed that the mention of this name brought a sadness to Adam\u2019s eyes. When they said she was gone did they mean she had died and that was why Adam was saddened by the mere mention of her name?<\/p>\n \u201cJust who is this Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one for you to worry about Emily. She was just a very special young girl. You could say she was like the little sister I never had, not counting Little Joe of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHa, Ha. Don\u2019t you pay him no mind Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to mind him Joseph, he\u2019s my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n And although this was taken as a joke, Emily meant it in all seriousness.<\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s a real good thing he married you and not someone like Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you know we were talking about Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s easy, Emily. For a long time Storm was as much a part of this family as any of us and the only one who actually seemed to like being around Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf that\u2019s true, you will have to tell me all about this Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI promise you someday I will, but not tonight.\u201d He knew his meaning was quite clear by Emily\u2019s reaction.\u201cADAM!\u201d<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t speak of Storm again for some time although there were times she crossed both of their minds. Adam and Emily were very happy. Happier still when they found out they were to become parents.<\/p>\n \u201cDarling are you sure you don\u2019t want to go to San Francisco? You could be with your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n Emily knew Adam would gladly swallow his pride for her peace of mind, which was why she was so willing to face down her fear for him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam. I want our child to be born right here! Not in some stuffy, crowded city.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam knew she was saying this to not only try and convince him, but herself as well and he loved her all the more for it. He knew it hadn\u2019t been easy for her to adjust to living on the ranch, but she never gave up trying. He also found that when they were in his family\u2019s company she was no longer embarrassed to accept his kisses although she was still reluctant to even allow him to hold her hand while in town.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Emily?\u201d<\/p>\n They had just finished a very fine game of chess that Emily had won, if you asked Adam only because he was too busy concentrating on her ever growing middle because that was the most obvious proof he would soon be a father. He had decided to try and concentrate on a book to try and avoid his wife\u2019s triumphant looks of victory. His attempts were interrupted by his wife\u2019s question.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm? What brought her to your mind after all this time?\u201d Adam wouldn\u2019t tell her that she had been on his mind more then once since their wedding. He had even thought about reminding Emily of her desire to know about Storm before this, but that would have required him to tell her and sometimes remembering all that had happened could make him feel down-hearted so he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I don\u2019t know, I guess I was thinking about our wedding and I recalled Mrs. Keyes mentioning her name and how happy and yet sad you were upon her saying it. Adam she\u2018s not dead is she?\u201d<\/p>\n Like Adam, Emily too had thought of Storm, and it was his apparent sadness that thinking about her caused him that had made her delay asking him about her until now. Like most woman her curiosity had finally won out. \u201c<\/p>\n No Emily, Storm is alive, or as far as I know she\u2018s alive. How can I describe her to you? Pretty much her name says it all. She and her mother and father moved here when she was about four. Matthew, Skye, and Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSkye, that was her mother\u2019s name? It\u2019s such a pretty name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was a beautiful woman. She was Comanche. I believe her Indian name was She Who Was Born of the Skye and Storm\u2019s was She Who Brought Down the Storm. Little Joe and her were about the same age, Little Joe being about four or five months younger. Matthew came here shortly after they arrived looking to buy some stock and some horses. He had brought Storm with him. He said she was better at picking a good horse than he was. It was a beautiful day in early September. It was so warm you would have sworn it was more like early summer then almost autumn. I was sitting outside pretending to be reading, but more listening to pa and Matt talk business when she walks over to me as bold as you please and tells me she can read too. I looked up to see her standing there with her hands on her hips and a look in her eyes just daring me to tell her she was lying. I found out it was a good thing I didn\u2019t because she could. Matt said he was teaching both her and Skye.<\/p>\n “From that day on whenever Matt would come here Storm would be with him but that only lasted until she was old enough to come by herself. After that there was no telling when she would appear. Matt would scold her about coming too early or too late, but I never really minded. It\u2019s kind of like Little Joe said, I know he was kidding but there was some truth to it, she always liked to be around me. She always seemed to be looking up to me, always made me feel important. I guess I felt like pa must have when I, Hoss and Little Joe would look at him and ask him questions. It was as if she believed I knew everything, like in her eyes I could do no wrong. Don\u2019t take that to mean that even at her age she didn\u2019t try to argue with me about how she was old enough to do things when I told her she wasn\u2019t. I\u2019m not saying that Hoss and Little Joe didn\u2019t, back then at least, look up to me; it was just different with Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably because she was a girl and maybe you could see that she would be as beautiful as her mother someday.\u201d Selfishly Emily felt very thankful that something had taken Storm away from here. She began to fear that if it hadn\u2019t Adam would not be her husband but Storm\u2019s. After she found out what the reason was she felt guilty for feeling pleased that Storm had gone.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I mean yes, you could see that she would be beautiful, but she was only a child. They lived here for twelve years, they were happy for six of them. If you were to have asked me before Storm was ten if I thought Matt loved her, I would have sworn to you no father could love his daughter more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened when she was ten to change that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSkye died, or more accurately, she was murdered. Matt blamed Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow could he blame her? She didn\u2019t do something to kill her own mother did she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Skye hid her in a trunk when she saw the men ride up. She told her to stay still and not make a sound, she made Storm promise. Matt always said that she should have tried to go for help, but Storm never broke a promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if she had tried and they killed her too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI like to believe he didn\u2019t think of that possibility, but I\u2019m afraid even if he had it wouldn\u2019t have mattered to him. All he would ever dwell on was that he had lost his wife, not that he still had a daughter. Up until she turned sixteen she spent more of her time on the Ponderosa than at home, then when she was sixteen they went to England. Matt forbade me to write to her, even went as far as to say that if I did he would see to it that she never read a word, but I did try once. I didn\u2019t again when I got it back saying if I did, Storm would pay the price. I always hoped that Storm didn\u2019t ever think I\u2019d forgotten about her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam maybe, once this baby is old enough, we should go to England.\u201d If they did maybe they would find that Storm was happy and Adam wouldn\u2019t be so sad to think about her.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d It was nice to think that they would even though he knew they wouldn\u2019t. He didn\u2019t want to see what Storm might have become having only her father\u2019s coldness to try and warm her heart by. He couldn\u2019t know that the memory of the love and caring he and his father and brothers had always shown her could have kept her heart warm for an eternity.<\/p>\n In October Adam welcomed his son into his heart and a great sadness into his soul.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul, what\u2019s wrong? The baby?\u201d Adam didn\u2019t like the expression on the doctor\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cYour son is fine Adam.\u201d Paul hoping the news that it was a boy would ease Adam\u2019s pain.<\/p>\n \u201cEmily?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. You\u2019re lying. She\u2019s gonna be alright. Just wait and see she\u2019ll prove that\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSon.\u201d Ben knew only too well what his son was feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cNO! Pa she\u2019s gonna be alright!\u201d Adam ran upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cHey did you see your son?\u201d She sounded so tired.<\/p>\n He had taken a quick glance into the cradle and would look better later, but right now he had to see his wife. \u201cYes. He is very handsome, but how are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTired. I\u2019ve never felt this tired.\u201d Emily knew what was happening and she knew that Adam knew. \u201cAdam you won\u2019t be like Storm\u2019s father will you? You won\u2019t blame your son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlame him for what? There will be nothing to blame him for. You\u2019re going to be fine Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d She could hear his heart breaking and cursed herself for doing this to him. \u201cAdam will you name him after you. I thought that would be a perfect name because then we could call him AJ. Oh Adam, maybe it would have been better if you had married someone more like Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam felt her hand go limp in his. Almost as if he knew his mother was gone AJ began to cry and so did Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cPa.” Ben could hear the tears in Little Joe\u2019s voice, he could see them on Hoss\u2019s face and he could feel them on his own. He knew that they all wanted to help Adam and they would all try too, soon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll leave him for a little while. He needs some time right now.\u201d Ben knew the pain losing a wife brought and he hated that now, so did his son. Twenty minutes later they heard Adam in the hall. After another two or three they saw him coming down the stairs holding the only thing that would make this bearable for all of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to see your grandson, pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery much.\u201d Ben walked over to his son and watched him gently pull the blanket from the baby\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got Emily\u2019s nose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be alright pa.\u201d For some reason Ben felt it might take more than just his or his other son\u2019s love and understanding to help make that come true.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 4<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cStorm come in here.\u201d Matt had finally found something a daughter was better suited for than a son.<\/p>\n \u201cYes papa. Oh hello Lord Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, Lord Duncan has asked for my permission to marry you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa?\u201d<\/p>\n This couldn\u2019t be happening. Surely her father hadn\u2019t agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve given it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa. What about Nevada, Virginia City? You said we would go back.\u201d<\/p>\n She would have mentioned the Ponderosa and Adam but was afraid what anger that would bring out of her father. When they had first arrived she had expected a letter from Adam every day but as the days, months and years passed and none came she began to suspect the truth. Never once did she feel the blame was Adam\u2019s she knew that somehow her father had kept him from writing to her. That was why Adam had made her promise to remember he always cared for her.<\/p>\n \u201cI never intended to go back and I believe you knew that all along. You are twenty years old. You haven\u2019t shown any interest in finding a husband of your own choosing so you can\u2019t complain when I make the choice for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMatthew! That is rather cruel. Storm do you wish to marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Lord Duncan. You are a fine gentleman; it\u2019s just that I had always hoped to at least visit Nevada one more time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps we can go there on our wedding trip. We\u2019ll tour all of the Americas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course Lord Duncan. That would be a fine honeymoon.\u201d Storm knew it to be useless to argue, useless to try and go against her father. She had been kept from mentioning returning again when her father had said that she couldn\u2019t honestly believe that Adam wasn\u2019t already married. She had begun to wonder if that were true would she want to see him as another woman\u2019s husband or would she rather hold on to the dream that he could be hers? She found that she had little interest in any of the plans that had to be made; she had little need to be. Except for the dress, and that only because it needed to be fitted to her, Lord Duncan hired whoever was needed to handle every detail.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you look exceptionally lovely tonight.\u201d He liked to believe it was because she had tried to but knew that without any effort at all she looked lovely.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Lord Duncan.\u201d She had tried harder but not for him. Today was a very special day for her, it was Adam\u2019s birthday and when she closed her eyes tonight while they were at the opera she would pretend she was with Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, will you call me Lord Duncan ever after we are married?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose not.\u201d<\/p>\n Lord George Duncan was not a cruel man, just a desperate one. Desperate in the way a man can become when he realizes life has been passing him by and he only now recognizes it. When he was young he believed, as do all young men, that they will never grow old. Now as he approached fifty he realized he was alone. It couldn\u2019t be said that he didn\u2019t care for Storm, he did. Which was the reason he did what he was about to do.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, I have something for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I feel it is. It\u2019s an early birthday present.\u201d<\/p>\n Birthday present? Why did everything today have to remind her of Adam? \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just wait till it\u2019s my birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause then it will be too late.\u201d He handed her an envelope and when she opened it she expected to find tickets to some opera or play. What she did find made her smile as he had never seen. \u201cThese are tickets for a ship?\u201d The dream of what might be momentarily overshadowing the reality of what she knew to be. \u201cYes, a ship that will take you and your father to New York. From there you can take the railroad to Saint Louis, then the stage to Nevada. I believe that\u2019s the way it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTHANK YOU, thank you so very\u2026..\u201d He saw the smile that had been lighting her face shatter into tears as once again the truth of her situation was remembered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa will never go. He\u2019ll never let me go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? You would really talk to him?\u201d Storm thought he might stand a chance of convincing her father. It wasn\u2019t because he had more money than her father, because he didn\u2019t, just that he was more commanding a presence than her father. For the first time Storm realized that maybe the reason she hadn\u2019t fought so hard to stop this wedding was because Lord Duncan reminded her of Adam. A little older and not quite as handsome but of very much the same character.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Storm and, I promise you, you will be on that ship when it sails.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMatthew how can you be so heartless? The wedding will be delayed but not by much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGeorge, you don\u2019t understand, if she goes there without being married first she will never come back. The only reason she left four years ago was because she had no choice and he had no way to stop me. The only thing that kept her from running away back then was that she believed we would go back. Now if she sees him she won\u2019t leave. If she asks for his help he will give it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf that\u2019s true then I don\u2019t want her to marry me. I\u2019m getting old Matthew but unlike you I don\u2019t want to be alone. If I am going to take a woman to be my wife I would like it to be because she wants to be, not because in doing so she will please her father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe if I tell you the real reason we left you will better understand. If you truly want my daughter as your wife you will not take her back there. I didn\u2019t take her here because I wished for her to see England. I took her here because it was the farthest I could think of to get her away from him. You see that night at the dance he said she was lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd because of that you feared he might grow to care for her? You feared he would\u2026\u2026\u201d George now understood something. Something Matthew himself didn\u2019t yet realize. \u201cYou feared he would take her away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you\u2019re being ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAm I? You are as afraid as I am of being alone; you are just too stubborn to admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care about her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you do. I think you love her a great deal but if you admit it then you give her the ability to hurt you. You give fate another way to make you suffer as it did with your wife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can play the philosopher if you wish but the truth is she\u2019s the reason my wife is dead not fate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine! Then I will escort her to America. I\u2019ll see to it that she reaches Virginia City safely.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t. You are not married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI give you my word nothing untoward will occur.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could care less if it did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Storm could hardly believe she was on her way to America. She had wished her father would have changed his mind but she had known he wouldn\u2019t. There had been a few days when she had begun to think that maybe she shouldn\u2019t go either but on those nights she would have a dream that seemed to be telling her that Adam needed her and so she knew she must go. The day she left her father didn\u2019t even say goodbye. He had turned his back to her as she was going to give him a kiss goodbye and he didn\u2019t look at her again. He just told her, as she and Lord Duncan were walking out the door that if she left the only way he would welcome her back was if she were Lady Duncan.<\/p>\n The closer they got to Nevada the more nervous Storm became. When the stage pulled into Virginia City Lord Duncan realized just how nervous when he took her hand to help her down. \u201cMy God, you\u2019re trembling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose I am. It\u2019s just that I\u2019m so excited.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm are you sure we will be welcome at the Ponderosa? Maybe we should get rooms at the hotel, just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLord Duncan, unless there have been some very drastic changes, we will be welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n They hired a carriage and arrangements were made for their luggage to be brought to the Ponderosa. At first Storm pointed out things in town to him. It seemed she had a story for every building, every street, and every ally. George realized one Cartwright or another was involved in every one. As they left the town behind, Storm grew quiet. They had traveled in silence for fifteen minutes or so when George felt the need to break that silence.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m sorry, you startled me.\u201d He didn\u2019t need to be told that it was obvious by the way she had almost fallen out of the carriage. \u201cForgive me. I just wanted to ask you if you would let me know when we near the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been on the Ponderosa for ten minutes now.\u201d<\/p>\n Eventually George caught a glimpse of the house he had heard so much about. He had to admit, even if it was quite rustic, it was as lovely as Storm had described it. He was a bit disappointed by this. Somewhere he had hoped she had been wrong in her memory of it because then maybe she would be wrong in her memories of him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to stand there, or are you going to knock?\u201d<\/p>\n They had reached the house and he had thought that she was waiting for the driver to leave before knocking but he had been gone for almost two minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just so excited.\u201d Storm wouldn\u2019t admit that she was a little nervous and perhaps afraid as well. She raised her hand again this time with every intent to knock but when the door opened it became unnecessary.<\/p>\n Ben had heard the carriage ride up and became very curious when he had heard it ride away and no one had knocked or called out. When he opened the door and saw a rather lovely young woman standing there he was a little startled. \u201cCan I help\u2026\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBEN!\u201d She threw her arms around his waist. Once again she was where she was safe. It was as if the past five years had never happened. It had not escaped George\u2019s attention that she called this man by his given name. He supposed things were different here. He began to wonder how Storm would be different here.<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t believe it. Had his prayers been answered? Had the miracle he had been praying for arrived in the form of this \u2018lovely young lady\u2019 as his son had called her?<\/p>\n \u201cStorm? Angel is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ben it\u2019s me. I\u2019m finally back.\u201d<\/p>\n George watched as once again they hugged. He was beginning to think that Storm had forgotten all about him. Finally the hug ended and Storm turned to him.<\/p>\n \u201cBen, I would like for you to meet Lord George Duncan. Lord Duncan is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA friend of Matthews. I offered to escort Storm to America.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you have my heartfelt thanks Lord Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease from what I have been told titles don\u2019t carry much weight here. I would like you to call me George, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Ben, George. And look at you. All grown up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was bound to happen someday but don\u2019t let it fool you. I can still\u2026\u2026\u201d The sound she heard from inside stopped her words as well as her heart. For it was a sound that frightened her, worried her, but also pleased her. \u201cBen? Is that a baby?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it is Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you went and had a fourth son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt did appear for quite some time that that would be the only way I would ever hold another baby, but no he\u2019s Adam\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s? Oh Ben that\u2019s wonderful. He\u2019s happy than?\u201d And she realized that she would be glad to know that he was happy. To know that at least his life was what he wanted it to be. Ben knew she meant it even though he could see a sadness in her eyes. He knew she would be happy to see Adam happy. Maybe now that wouldn\u2019t be as unattainable a goal as he had begun to think.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, George, why don\u2019t we go inside.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm sensed something was wrong. She prayed it wasn\u2019t something with Adam. Ben walked over to where AJ was laying and picked him up. Storm watched and allowed him to try and quiet the baby for two minutes before she went and took the baby from his arms, happy that he didn\u2019t seem to mind. She wondered where was the baby\u2019s mother, where was Adam? AJ was no sooner in Storm\u2019s arms, than he began to quiet down.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is truly amazing. He usually needs to be walked around for five minutes before he even begins to quiet down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because I\u2019m soft where you\u2019re not.\u201d She looked at Adam\u2019s son as he rested his head on her chest.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen, if your head were resting on a rock or a pillow, which one would be more apt to make you comfortable and there by put you in a pleasant mood?\u201d<\/p>\n He noticed exactly where his grandson\u2019s head was placed and understood. He was glad that some things hadn\u2019t changed while George was surprised to see how some things had.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen where is Adam? Where is his wife?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben motioned for everyone to take a seat.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst let me tell you about Emily, Adam\u2019s wife. They were married sixteen months when AJ was born.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can hardly wait to meet her Ben. She must make Adam so happy.\u201d And although it did make her a little sad she was so very content to know he was happy.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, Emily\u2026.Well she died when AJ was born.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Oh God Ben. Adam, how is he?\u201d For a second she had feared that maybe he had abandoned his son blaming him for his mother\u2019s death as her father had blamed her for hers but she remembered Adam was nothing like her father.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been six months now and he does a little better each day. There are still times he\u2026..well.\u201d How could he tell her that there were times his son was someone he didn\u2019t know. Someone he wouldn\u2019t have thought his son capable of being. \u201cHe\u2019s taken a very big step this week. He and Hoss went to Tucson. They left yesterday and should be back next Sunday. It\u2019s the first time in six months that he\u2019s been away from the Ponderosa, from AJ, for more than a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re taking care of the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you sound so surprised? Remember young lady I did raise three sons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd did a very good job of it but that was some time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you trying to imply that I\u2019m too old?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo just a lot smarter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, so you\u2019re saying I\u2019m older and wiser.\u201d<\/p>\n “Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually in the week Mrs. Keyes comes out during the day. Adam is usually the one to handle the times she is not here, nights and weekends. Of course he does get help when he needs it and at times when he doesn\u2018t. He is really quite an amazing father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe had an amazing teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo I have to wait a whole week to see him or Hoss but where is Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe should be back later this evening or, if it gets too late, he\u2019ll come home tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen, AJ needs to be changed.\u201d<\/p>\n It was something that could not be denied no matter how much Storm wanted to stay and talk. Ben got up and walked to where Storm was sitting and put out his arms. \u201cGive him to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead of pushing him into his arms as had happened on many occasions in the past, Storm stood up without relinquishing the smelly bundle she kept cradled to her. \u201cNo, I\u2019ll do it, just tell me where I can find what I\u2019ll need.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn Adam\u2019s room. Are you sure Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n This was one area where even women who had come in hopes of impressing Adam had backed down, and now that Adam wasn\u2019t here to impress someone had accepted the challenge. Then Ben remembered this was Storm and knew she wasn\u2019t doing it to impress anyone but because she wanted to. He only hoped she would accept the challenge to change his son\u2019s decaying spirit as easily as she accepted the challenge of changing his grandson\u2019s foul-smelling diaper.<\/p>\n \u201cBen he is not the first baby I\u2019ve changed.\u201d<\/p>\n It was too late to ask Storm to explain what she meant by what she had just said. She was already halfway up the stairs not needing to be told just where Adam\u2019s room was. This fact too did not escape George.<\/p>\n \u201cGeorge.\u201d Ben turned his attention to his remaining guest, actually his only guest as he could never think of Storm as a guest in his house. It was as much her home as anyone\u2019s. \u201cYou said you were a friend of Matthew\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d At first when they had been told that Adam was married he began to have hope that Storm would be returning with him after all, but now he was beginning to feel it was a lost cause. \u201cCan I be honest with you Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would hope you would be and seeing as you are here with Storm I know you will be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we first arrived here I saw a joy in Storm\u2019s eyes I have never seen and I knew she would be staying. Then when you said Adam was married I thought maybe she would come back to England with me, but now I know she will stay behind. She\u2019ll stay because she knows he needs her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had hoped that over the years his heart had softened towards her but am I to take it that you are saying that Matthew doesn\u2019t expect her to return, that he doesn\u2019t want her to return?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly as Lady Duncan. I do believe those were his exact words. I had never realized how cold he was towards her because in England it is not uncommon, even for those who share a great love, to act towards each other as he did towards her in public. It was only after I asked for his permission to marry her that I began to see the truth.\u201d He could see the shock on Ben\u2019s face even if he was trying to suppress it. \u201cI know, I\u2019m old enough to be her father. I hope that you will agree with me that there is nothing more foolish than an old man, except maybe one who believes he can recapture some of his lost youth by taking a young wife. I do care greatly for her, Storm is like no one I have ever known and I am beginning to believe that you are the one to be thanked for that. When I told Matthew of my idea for Storm to come here he told me to do so only after we were married. He believed once she saw your son she would not return, I guess he was right and she hasn\u2019t even seen your son, but I knew she had to come here before we were married. I had originally intended for Matthew to come with her but he wouldn\u2019t hear of it, so I offered to escort her. You see Ben I don\u2019t want a wife who will regret the day she married me, I don\u2019t want a wife who will be wishing I were another man every time I take her in my arms. If we came here after we were married that would be exactly what I would have. I may be an old fool but I am not a blind one. Would you like to know the true reason Matthew said he took Storm away from here? He said it was because he heard your son say that he thought Storm was a lovely young lady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a blind man who couldn\u2019t see that, even then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI may be in the minority but I believe Matthew loves Storm a great deal. I believe he is afraid of losing her and I also believe that he thinks your son is the one man who could take her away from him. By making Storm try to win his approval, his love, he made it impossible for any man to try and win her heart, except your son because he already had her heart. I just hope Matthew will realize what he is giving up before it is too late.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what have you two been talking about? Ben have you been telling Lord Duncan stories of my willful childhood?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben noticed that AJ looked very happy in Storm\u2019s arms. George had noticed how naturally AJ seemed to fit in Storm\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cNo we have just been getting to know each other.\u201d<\/p>\n They spent the rest of the day talking and laughing. They remembered old times and discussed things that had happened in the past five years. When Hop-Sing saw who had come he was as happy as Ben. They stopped briefly to eat lunch and then supper and also when AJ needed a bottle or to be changed. In this way time passed and soon it was time for AJ to go to bed, or at least that\u2019s what Storm thought.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can try Storm but it\u2019s only half past eight, he usually refuses to go to sleep before ten o\u2018clock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen are you the same man who made his seventeen year old son go to bed at 8:00 because he had to get up early the next day?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was different.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly because that was your son and this is your grandson.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo because it is impossible to get him to sleep before ten. We have tried Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho here is the adult?\u201d Storm gathered what she needed and took AJ upstairs.<\/p>\n When Ben heard the lullaby he couldn\u2019t help but think she wasn\u2019t being fair. How could any infant refuse to sleep when cradlesongs were being sung by an angel. \u00a0 It was the first time in six months that the house was this quiet at this time. Usually, as Ben had said, AJ didn\u2019t even begin to settle down until ten o\u2019clock; what he had failed to say was that even then it was a struggle. A struggle that he and his son had more than once given up on trying to win.<\/p>\n He knew that he would have never been that lenient with his sons but had been afraid to point this out to Adam. There were certain subjects that Ben found himself hesitant to speak of with his son, he hoped Storm wouldn\u2019t be. When the door slammed open both Ben and George jumped.<\/p>\n \u201cPa! I\u2019m back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJOSEPH. Keep quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is quiet. Pa where\u2019s AJ?\u201d He hoped that Adam hadn\u2019t come back and decided to move back to the house he had built for Emily. When Emily had died Adam had come back to stay with them but had said it would only be temporary.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is sleeping, and if you wish for him to remain so you will keep it a little quieter for at least another fifteen or twenty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe watched as a very beautiful woman walked down the stairs and crossed the floor until she was standing before him.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n It took a few minutes for him to recognize just who was standing before him. When he did he was never happier to see anyone then he was to see her. \u201cStorm? Oh Storm. Adam will be so happy to see you.\u201d Little Joe pulled her into a very tight hug. \u201cYou know at first I was worried that Adam had come back, but even he can\u2019t get AJ to sleep this early.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly men would think that this is early. This is not early for a six month old baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust how is it you know so much about babies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be because I had one for almost a year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben didn\u2019t understand and part of him was afraid to have the answer that would help him to. Was Storm married once before her present engagement? Did she lose a child?<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a young girl who worked for papa, Colleen. She had a baby and when the baby was three months old she took ill and died. I made a promise to her that I would take care of little Patrick until his father returned. His father worked on one of papa\u2019s ships. He had gone to sea and wasn\u2019t due back for almost a year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what happened when he did come back?\u201d Ben felt certain if she could have she would have done anything to keep that baby.<\/p>\n \u201cHe felt it best to return to his home town in Ireland. He wanted to be close to his family and Colleen\u2019s as well. He knew that there he would get all the help he would need.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm it\u2019s really good to have you back home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I remember correctly Joseph, you said it was really nice to see me go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh Storm, you know I was only joking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as I recall after you left his school grades did drop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot by that much pa and it was only because I missed her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe or my answers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the correct answer and it gets you something to eat.\u201d She went to make her way into the kitchen. \u201cBen, Lord Duncan, would you like something as well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Storm, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling a little tired so if you will excuse me I think I will follow AJ\u2019s example and go to bed.\u201d George hated to admit it but he was feeling a little bit envious. Storm appeared to be so at home here it was almost as if she had never left but, more than that, loving these men seemed to be so natural for her.<\/p>\n The following morning when Mrs. Keyes arrived she was surprised to see AJ completely washed and fed. Even more surprising was that he was smiling. \u201cWhy Ben Cartwright. I do believe you have been holding out. You should teach Adam just how it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been Joseph.\u201d She was well aware that both Hoss and Adam were not home.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Mrs. Keyes. I do believe that the secret to having a happy baby at this time of the morning is getting him to bed before ten o\u2019clock at night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm? Storm Kendall is that you child?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Mrs. Keyes. It is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Ben if anyone can bring Adam back to his old self it has to be her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Rebecca it does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes would you mind greatly if I help you with AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all. From the looks of it he\u2019s already taken to you.\u201d Rebecca remembered that even though she had become a daily part of AJ\u2019s life when he was only two months old he had still needed time to take to her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s only because I tell him he\u2019s a very handsome baby and like any man he has an enormous ego.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr maybe he can sense that you care for his father, that you can help him. You still do care for Adam don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I do Mrs. Keyes. I care for all the Cartwright men.\u201d<\/p>\n All week long Mrs. Keyes had help. Help that for once was really help and not a hindrance. There were a few times that Little Joe or Ben managed to pull Storm away, mostly when AJ was napping. They would take her riding or show her and Lord Duncan the Ponderosa. When Mrs. Keyes left on Friday she wasn\u2019t feeling as guilty as she had thought she would. Ben had accompanied her outside and they were standing there listening to Storm talking to AJ.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know Ben I was going to offer to come and help out tomorrow but I do believe you\u2019ll be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Rebecca I think we will all be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow I want you to tell me just how Adam reacts when he sees her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will be sure to tell you every detail.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen can I tell you something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to promise me that you won\u2019t repeat it, especially not to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI liked Emily. She was a very kind and sweet young woman and I never doubted that she and Adam loved each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just never felt she was right for Adam. I guess I was afraid that in time she would take him away from here, from you. Everyone could see that she was trying to fit in but she wasn\u2019t made for life here and in time because they did love each other Adam would have taken her to where she did fit in because, well Adam can fit in anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that the only reason?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s just the romantic in me but I suppose I had hopes that Storm would come back. I always thought she was perfect for Adam. That, well, she was made just for him. I can recall that she use to come to me after that first time I explained to her about men and women. She had asked for my help to learn how to act and do things like other woman do. I tried to teach her how to make dresses and how to fix her hair. One time we somehow got back on the topic of the special relationship that happens between a man and a woman. She was never ashamed to speak what was on her mind. She looked me square in the eyes that day and asked me if I thought that Adam had ever been with a woman in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you tell her?\u201d Ben didn\u2019t know how he would have handled such a question.<\/p>\n \u201cI told her the truth. I told her that no man is a saint. That at one time or another every man has felt the need for a woman\u2019s company, for the comfort a woman\u2019s arms alone can give him. Then she wanted to know why I had told her that it was something men and women do only after they were married because Adam wasn\u2019t married to Marinda and she saw him kissing her. She said she had seen him going with Marinda to her house one night and she had followed. When she knocked on the door Marinda told her to go away, that Adam needed a woman not a little girl. That she had closed the door in her face. She said she heard Adam ask Marinda who it had been at the door and she heard her tell him it was no one. She said she believed that Marinda knew she was out there listening because she told Adam to come and help her get out of her dress and she would show him what a real woman was for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRebecca I never believed myself capable of raising saints I only wished to be able to say I\u2019d raised decent men so there must be another reason for you to tell me this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you have most definitely succeeded but there is another reason. You see I don\u2019t recall ever seeing Storm so hurt and yet so determined. She loved Adam so much then, I only pray she still does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo do I Rebecca, so do I.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 5<\/strong><\/p>\n A little after nine o\u2019clock Saturday night Storm was upstairs singing to an already sleeping AJ, Lord Duncan was lying on his bed listening to her and, not for the first time, regretting slightly that he hadn\u2019t followed Matthew\u2019s advice and taken her here only after they were married.<\/p>\n Ben and Little Joe were sitting downstairs both lost in their own thoughts of just how Adam would react upon coming home tomorrow and finding Storm here.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, that sounds like horses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think Adam and Hoss came back a little early?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt really wouldn\u2019t surprise me. This week may have passed quickly for us but I\u2019m sure it felt like it was taking forever to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe wondered why his father was getting up? \u201cPa where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo make sure your brothers come in quietly.\u201d Before Ben could reach the door it opened.<\/p>\n \u201cHello pa.\u201d Adam had almost walked into his father.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Adam. Where\u2019s Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing to the horses. He knew how anxious I was to see AJ so he said I should just come and see him. Where is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJudging from the silence he\u2019s probably fast asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa it\u2019s barely past nine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue enough son, but we have been blessed to have an angel come and stay with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean Mrs. Keyes offered to stay? Somehow I thought she might.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot Mrs. Keyes Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEmily\u2019s mother? Have Andrew and Judith come to visit?\u201d Adam wasn\u2019t to certain if that would be a good thing.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who? Who is up there with my son?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben saw Adam look up the stairs with a very protective look in his eyes. When he saw that look soften into one of disbelief Ben knew Adam had his answer.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe why don\u2019t we go help Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe wanted to stay right here. He wanted to stay and see if his brother would smile as only Storm seemed to make him but he knew his father was right. Adam deserved to be alone with Storm because maybe he wouldn\u2019t want to smile just yet maybe he would be want to share his tears with her as he hadn\u2019t with anyone else.<\/p>\n Hearing the door close behind him seemed to rouse Adam from the trance he\u2019d fallen into. He watched as she came downstairs. His legs must have moved of their own accord because he couldn\u2019t remember telling them to and yet here he was meeting her at the bottom of the steps.<\/p>\n She reached up and gently caressed his face. \u201cHello Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Unaware that tears had begun falling the minute he had found himself in front of her. \u201cStorm? Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Adam. It\u2019s alright. I\u2019m here now.\u201d The only other time she had seen Adam cry was when Little Joe\u2019s mother had died and even though she had been only five she had held him then as she was now. They didn\u2019t know they were being watched.<\/p>\n When Lord Duncan saw Adam take Storm in his arms he knew for certain he would be returning to England alone. He quietly returned to his bed feeling it would be best to wait until tomorrow to meet the man who had always possessed Storms heart.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did you get back?\u201d<\/p>\n Fortunately by the time Ben had allowed his sons to come back in Adam and Storm had already been sitting on the settee. Ben could see that Adam had indeed been crying.<\/p>\n After saying hello to Hoss she had gone to make some coffee and they were now sitting around each enjoying a cup.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been back a week Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sure am glad you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo am I Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs Matt with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam, Lord Duncan escorted me here. He must be sleeping. You will meet him tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what made you come for a visit?\u201d Adam wondered if somehow she had heard about Emily.<\/p>\n Not knowing that Ben knew the truth she chose to tell Adam what Lord Duncan had at first said. \u201cLord Duncan knew how much I wished to return to Nevada. He gave me this trip as a birthday present.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I haven\u2019t forgotten, your birthday isn\u2019t for some months yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe said it was an early birthday present but oddly enough he gave it to me on your birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I will have to remember to thank him for a wonderful present but Matthew let him escort you here?\u201d Not having met him Adam was picturing Lord Duncan as a young and handsome nobleman.<\/p>\n \u201cOriginally Lord Duncan had intended for father to come with me, but you know papa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I do. God forbid that for once he should\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cADAM.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at his father. He knew he was only succeeding in hurting Storm by reminding her of something she didn\u2019t need to be reminded of.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, as usual you\u2019re right. It has taken me a long time to realize it, a long time to have a reason strong enough to make me see it. I can\u2019t make him love me, I can\u2019t make him proud of me. I know I have done nothing wrong, nothing that makes me deserving of his hatred. But that is all in the past and no longer important. I\u2019m here now and here I will stay until you no longer need or want me too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat could take a very long time or at least until you teach me you\u2019re secret of getting my son to bed at a decent time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid that is a secret you had to be born with not one you can learn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and tell him Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe I said that if your head was resting on a rock or a pillow which one would put you in a better mood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNext time you hold AJ Adam you\u2019ll understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you say so pa.\u201d It wasn\u2019t the next time he held AJ but the first time he saw Storm holding him that he did. \u00a0 Not too shortly after everyone finished their coffee they all went to bed and it wasn\u2019t too long after that AJ woke up.<\/p>\n Storm, having had a more restful week, got up before Adam. So when he walked into his son\u2019s room he saw Storm already sitting and rocking him, gently singing and feeding him a bottle. Storm knew he was there, she could feel him watching her, could sense he was near. She looked towards the door and she could tell that he was upset, she just assumed it was for a different reason than it actually was.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam, I thought you could use a good nights rest. If you would rather\u2026\u2026\u201d Storm began to rise out of the rocker but Adam walked over to her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just that you looked so upset.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you thought it was because you were taking care of AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell he is your son.\u201d<\/p>\n How could he blame her for thinking that? How many times had she heard her father remind him that she was his daughter?<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, I know you would never do anything to cause him any harm. I know you care for him, I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice as you sing to him. It\u2019s not because I wish to keep him all to myself it\u2019s just that seeing you here, holding him, has made me realize just how much\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I\u2019m here for you too.\u201d<\/p>\n He sat on the floor by her feet and rested his head in her lap. She held AJ in one arm and used the other hand to caress Adam\u2019s face. Then once again she began to sing.<\/p>\n The following morning Adam and Hoss were introduced to Lord Duncan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s real nice to meet you Lord Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou as well Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLord Duncan I would like to thank you for helping Storm to get back here. You would have to be quite a remarkable man to convince Matthew to allow her to return. It is an honor to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam, the honor is all mine. Storm, I take it you will be staying here indefinitely?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe so, Lord Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen if it\u2019s alright Ben, at your earliest convenience, I will request your help in arranging my trip back to England.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen is it you would like to leave?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n The soonest was on Wednesday. In the few days that he was in Adam\u2019s presence Lord Duncan could understand why Storm was so taken with him and again Storm found herself thinking that he and Adam were very much alike.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Wednesday arrived Storm found herself feeling a little uneasy. She and Lord Duncan were saying their goodbyes, Hoss, Little Joe and Adam having said theirs earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll tell papa\u2026..?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you like me to tell him Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing. I don\u2019t think he\u2019d care to listen to anything I had to tell him anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you\u2019re sure Storm? You really wish to remain? If you would like I could wait if you only wish to stay for a little longer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m not too sure how long I\u2019ll be staying and yes I really do want to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you need anything just write and let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, I will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll write even if you don\u2019t need anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I\u2019ll write.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know something, England is going to be a whole lot gloomier without you there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know one person will think so Lord Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n He tenderly kissed her cheek and got into the wagon Ben was waiting to take him into town in. He had requested that they say their goodbyes here instead of in town. Storm had thought he wished to avoid being surrounded by strangers when they had bid farewell but truthfully it was because George had something he wanted to discuss with Ben. As the wagon disappeared Storm went back into the house. She didn\u2019t recall ever feeling this unsure about any decision that she had ever made. Had she made the right one? She had just watched every chance of security ride away. She was here now without any money or means of support. Oh, she knew she would never be hungry or homeless but she had turned her back on a future that she knew was one almost any woman would hope theirs could be, for one that held no promise of being what she wished for it to be. The more she had gotten to know Lord Duncan and the more she realized how alike he and Adam were she had begun to believe maybe life with him wouldn\u2019t have been so bad. Maybe in time she would grow to love him as she loved Adam. Had she made the right choice? Then the door opened and she watched Hoss, Little Joe and Adam come in. They each gave her a smile and she noticed that Adam\u2019s was a little weaker than his brothers and she knew for certain that she had made the only choice she could have.<\/p>\n They had been riding for almost ten minutes before George decided to discuss with Ben what he had wanted to. He had foolishly been hoping to see Storm come riding after them saying she had changed her mind. As he had said there is no fool like an old fool.<\/p>\n \u201cBen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes George?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou realize that Storm is now on her own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as long as myself or any one of my sons is around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that, there is no way to not see that you all care for her a great deal, but you know Storm. She will live off of your good graces for only so long. That\u2019s why I\u2019m going to arrange to have a monthly deposit sent to a bank account I have already set up for her in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes you think she will accept charity from you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe won\u2019t know it\u2019s from me. I am going to send you a letter from my barrister stating that Matthew is the one making the deposits. We have the same barrister and I am sure he will do this at my request, that and the fact that he too has a soft spot in his heart for Storm. I\u2019m sure that she will not find it to be unusual that Matthew would not write to her himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you honestly think she will believe this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think she will so want to believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know her pretty well George.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI may not have know her as long as you or your sons Ben, but I love her too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 6<\/strong><\/p>\n The nearer June came, the meaner Adam became. Ben and Hoss and Little Joe all seemed to forgive him his outbursts and unprovoked anger but Storm wouldn\u2019t. There was more than one occasion when she stood with him toe to toe and matched him word for word until he would turn and stomp away. Storm recognized that there may have been times she should give him a little slack, but she knew he\u2019d already been given enough by everyone else, and too much slack could be just as dangerous as not enough.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm may I please speak with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would hope you would know that you always can.\u201d<\/p>\n They were alone in the house, Hoss and Little Joe having gone into town and Adam being out with AJ.<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow is going to be a bad day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBad days seem to be becoming common around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you haven\u2019t seen a bad day yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen what makes tomorrow so different?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow would have been Emily and Adam\u2019s second wedding anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. So what you are trying to do is to tell me to let him do whatever he pleases.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben would have thought Storm would be more caring. She must realize how hurt Adam would be by this memory.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying that. I\u2019m just asking you to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstand what? That he\u2019s acting no different than papa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO! Don\u2019t you see Ben? Why can\u2019t you see it? Papa needed someone to blame. He wasn\u2019t strong so he couldn\u2019t blame himself. Adam is strong and he is blaming himself, even more so because of his mother.\u201d She saw the look on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cBen, I\u2019m not saying that you ever made him feel as if he were responsible but we\u2019re talking about Adam. Even if he doesn\u2019t believe he\u2019s to blame he\u2019s feeling he is. I know you, Hoss and Little Joe, maybe you can accept his behavior because being men you can see it from his perspective, but I\u2019m a woman Ben and I can see it from Emily\u2019s. I know that I would rather die giving life to the child of the man I loved then to live and never know that joy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you do understand, maybe more than I do. I was going to suggest that you go and stay with Mrs. Keyes. I\u2019ve asked her and she has agreed to take AJ. She will keep him for th\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO! If there is one thing he needs it\u2019s to have his son here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, Adam agrees it might be for the best if AJ is not here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen, I don\u2019t recall ever defying you, but on this I will. Even if it means you throw me out. Adam needs his son here tomorrow even if he doesn\u2019t know it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Storm, we will do it your way but don\u2019t be surprised if\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he hates me for it? Ben I\u2019d rather him hate me if that hatred gives him the strength to be the man I know he is, then to have him love me and use that love as a crutch to lean on and be the man I\u2019ve watched him become these past weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s reaction was not what she was expecting. He slowly began to smile at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you were the answer to my prayers to help Adam but it appears as if you are here to help us all.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s warning proved to be a well founded one. Hoss and Little Joe went about their work as they would normally have done. A little sadder then most days and one man short. Adam didn\u2019t go about the day normally at all. He sat down to breakfast but was so sullen it made everyone else lose their appetite, everyone but Storm who enjoyed hers which probably added to Adams surly manner. She had even commented once or twice at how delicious everything was. He had become so lost in his own emotions he failed to notice that Mrs. Keyes never arrived to take AJ. Ben had ridden over and informed her of the new plans right after Storm had changed them. Remarkably Rebecca seemed to approve of them quite emphatically. Except for breakfast Ben was surprised to see that Storm was allowing Adam some room. Right after breakfast she had taken AJ upstairs and had remained there with him.<\/p>\n AJ\u2019s nap time was drawing near so Storm came downstairs to prepare his bottle. When she noticed that Adam seemed to be losing himself in a bottle of his own she decided it was time for his self pitying to come to an end. She grabbed the bottle from his hand and threw it into the fireplace. Ben came in the room just as Adam raised his hand and slapped her. Ben watched as Storm slowly turned her head back until she was once again looking Adam in the eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ever raise your hand to me again Adam Cartwright you will find yourself to be as any other man would find himself right now, minus one hand!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sure is nice to see that all those years living in England surrounded by such culture has helped to make you such a fine lady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it is nice to see that dealing with this tragedy has helped to show just what a fine gentleman you are.\u201d She turned around and headed back upstairs. Her reason for coming down momentarily forgotten.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease pa, just leave it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will ignore that you raised your hand to her but I can\u2019t leave it. I just can\u2019t do that Adam. Not until you know what she has given up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGiven up? Just what has she given up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverything son. Everything.\u201d Ben felt it was time for Adam to know the truth. \u201cAdam I loved Emily. I loved her for a lot of reasons, but mainly because you loved her. When she came here it was as your wife and with all the security that brings with it. She came here knowing that you loved her as she loved you. She also knew that she could always go back home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf Storm wishes to return to England then she should just go, as a matter of fact I will tell her that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just it Adam she can\u2019t go back. When I said she gave up everything I meant everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about, Matt sends her money every month.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo he doesn\u2019t, Lord Duncan does. Matt told Storm that the only way he would ever accept her back was if she were married to Lord Duncan as he had promised.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarried? But he\u2019s old enough to be her father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes he is but he would have given her security, he would have given her love. She let that go, she turned her back on something every woman wants something Emily had and for what reason? To put it simply, you needed her. She loves you Adam, she always has.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do you want me to do? Ask her to marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Adam you are my son and I love you but right now you are acting like a complete jackass.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam watched open mouthed as his father left the house. He heard a door upstairs shut and watched as Storm came down with AJ in her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam will you watch AJ while I go get a bottle for him. I think he would much prefer to take his nap outside. It is so very hot upstairs.\u201d She laid his son on the couch, smiled at him, and went into the kitchen. If it hadn\u2019t of been for the mark his hand had left on her cheek he would have sworn nothing had happened. After a short while she appeared with a basket in her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you, to let AJ take his nap outside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you mind if I came with you?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled at him. \u201cNo of course not Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n He picked up everything else and she picked up AJ.<\/p>\n She sat on the porch with an amazed Ben as Adam hitched up the wagon.\u201cYou truly are a miracle worker Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Ben, I just love him.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Adam had stopped the wagon AJ was fast asleep. Adam went and laid the blanket under the tree and then placed AJ on in. Once he was sure that AJ was soundly asleep once again he turned to go and help Storm down but should have known she wouldn\u2019t have waited, she was already walking towards him basket in hand.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what\u2019s in the basket?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope Hop-Sing doesn\u2019t mind but I stole some of that delicious pork he made last night and made some sandwiches.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure he won\u2019t mind.\u201d He watched as she unpacked the basket she had prepared and it was then that a realization came to him.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, you knew I would come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you packed this basket before I said I would. Unless you are exceptionally hungry you must have known I was going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know, I just hoped, you would come.\u201d<\/p>\n He sat down next to her and reached over and caressed the cheek he had slapped not too long ago. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I hit you Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re forgiven this time but you had best heed my warning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will.\u201d He kept gently rubbing her cheek as if in doing so he could erase the mark and therefore the memory of it. He watched a change come over her. He saw her lips part slightly, her eyes close of their own accord. He saw how her head tilted back as if she no longer had the strength to hold it upright. He found himself placing his hand behind the back of her neck and gently pulling her close to him. He stopped only when their lips were touching.<\/p>\n Storm\u2019s heart kept telling her this was not what Adam needed. Her head kept telling her he was kissing her but he was thinking of Emily. Her body, oh her body, kept telling her if he were willing to kiss her again then to hell with what her heart and head were saying.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard in her voice a hunger he had never heard in a woman\u2019s before but that wasn\u2019t what had him puzzled. What was puzzling him was what he was feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I\u2026.I\u2019m\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Adam. Would you like something to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would love something to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n They spent the rest of the day talking and laughing. They recalled past days until AJ seemed to realize he must be missing something and woke up.<\/p>\n Hoss and Little Joe had decided that perhaps today would be a good day to stop work early, truthfully they thought that of every day but today their reason was a valid one. They were both worried about their brother.<\/p>\n \u201cHey pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Joseph, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Without needing to be told Ben knew they were home because of their concern for Adam but chose to tease them. Perhaps if things had gone differently with Adam he wouldn\u2019t be in such a playful mood. \u201cYou boys finished everything that needed doing already? It is kind of early isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well about that pa, you see me and Little Joe were kinda\u2019 worried about Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I knew that Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa he didn\u2019t go into town did he?\u201d Little Joe was afraid that if he had he and Hoss would have to go and drag him home, literally.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Little Joe, as a matter of fact he went on a picnic with Storm and AJ.\u201d Ben saw the expressions on his son\u2019s faces and knew he had probably worn the same when he had realized where Adam was going.<\/p>\n \u201cA picnic?!\u201d Little Joe couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, Storm really is an angel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Hoss she is.\u201d And hopefully, Ben thought, given time your brother will realize it.<\/p>\n There were only a few more hours of light left, and as Adam, Storm and AJ had not yet returned, Ben was beginning to worry. Mercifully he didn\u2019t have to worry for long.<\/p>\n \u201cPa I hear the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank God, I was starting to think that\u2026.\u201d What Ben had begun to fear was that the argument that had started before the picnic had somehow been resumed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing Joe, nothing.\u201d There was no need for them to know what had happened earlier. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go and help your brother with the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure pa.\u201d Little Joe was happy to go. He couldn\u2019t wait to see Adam to know that he really was okay. Hoss would have gone to help as well if he weren\u2019t already busy helping himself to some of the cookies Hop-Sing had made.<\/p>\n When the picnickers came in Ben was happy to see them all smiling, including AJ. \u201cIt looks as if you\u2019ve all had a good day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll things considered pa, it was a very good day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you two will excuse me, I do believe that AJ is long past due to be changed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou couldn\u2019t tell by his smile.\u201d But as the odor his grandson was emitting reached him, Ben knew Storm to be right.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnless you would prefer to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d That was one chore Adam gladly gave up.<\/p>\n \u201cHow are you doing Adam?\u201d Ben had noticed how his son had watched after Storm as she took AJ upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cFine pa. A little confused but fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConfused about what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll work its way out. Pa I\u2019m sure glad Mrs. Keyes didn\u2019t take AJ today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have Storm to thank for that. I do believe if Mrs. Keyes had tried to take him she would have used any and all means necessary to stop her. She alone knew you needed him here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would seem she knows me better than I know myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s known you a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she\u2019s loved me a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she has son. Adam is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa will you please tell Storm I\u2019ve gone into town. That I just need to\u2026..Tell her I\u2019m alright, tell her I swear I won\u2019t drink too much. Tell her I\u2026..Tell her I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, I understand, go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa where\u2019s Adam going?\u201d Little Joe had just finished with the wagon and was on his way into the house when Adam had come out and gone into the barn and saddled his horse.<\/p>\n \u201cTo Virginia City Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? I thought he was okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is. Now why don\u2019t you and Hoss go and wash up before dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Hoss and Little Joe knew where Adam would end up. They were also glad their father had given them permission to leave and not have to be there when he told Storm. Ben waited for Storm to come down, uncertain if she would comprehend why Adam had gone to town, afraid of what would happen because he knew she would know where he had gone even if she didn\u2018t. He heard Storm in the hall as she said hello to Hoss and Little Joe. When he heard her coming downstairs he knew that the time of reckoning was here.<\/p>\n \u201cThere we go all clean and\u2026..Ben where is Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm he\u2019s gone to town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTown? But why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm do you remember what Mrs. Keyes once told you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what?\u201d Mrs. Keyes had told her many things but Storm was afraid she knew exactly what Ben meant.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout no man being a saint.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean he\u2019s gone to be with Marinda.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm try to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I won\u2019t let him do this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Storm, just leave it go. Right now Adam doesn\u2019t need understanding, he doesn\u2019t need love, he just needs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don\u2019t? You want to know something Ben, the whole time Mrs. Keyes was explaining to me about men and women I should have been terrified. I should have told her that what she was telling me was a lie. I know that what she was saying was what those men had done to mama but that\u2019s not what I kept thinking about. What I kept thinking about was Adam. Since Adam was a man and Adam would never do anything wrong it couldn\u2019t be wrong, but if he goes to Marinda tonight it\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying that any other time it would be right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just the day it\u2019s also the reason. He\u2019s not going because he misses Emily, he\u2019s not going because he needs the comfort of a woman\u2019s arms, he\u2019s going because he kissed me. What he\u2019s trying to prove to himself is that the only reason he kissed me was because he needed to, not because he wanted to\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you believe he wanted to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe he\u2019s afraid. I believe he felt something, maybe the realization that he could feel something made him see that maybe he just might fall in love again. Maybe that made him feel as if he were betraying Emily but now if he goes with Marinda then there was no emotion it was just a need, a need he would have never allowed himself to satisfy with me, but that\u2019s wrong because he deserves to love again, he deserves to be happy, whether or not it\u2019s with me. Now please take your grandson so I can go get your son.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben took AJ from her noticing the slight look of disappointment on his face as he was handed over. Once they heard the front door close Little Joe and Hoss came downstairs. They had thought that perhaps their father had decided to go after Adam so were surprised to find him holding AJ and Storm no where in sight.<\/p>\n \u201cPa where\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s gone to get your brother Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut pa if Adam\u2019s gone where I think he\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019ll be alright Joe.\u201d \u00a0 Storm rode to the house where Marinda lived. She remembered the way there well. She once again knocked on the door.<\/p>\n \u201cGo away, I\u2019m busy.\u201d Storm could hear the laughter in Marinda\u2019s voice. She knocked again, this time louder and harder.<\/p>\n \u201cI said go away!\u201d<\/p>\n She knocked once more, this time using her foot instead of her fist and kicked at the door repeatedly. She could hear footsteps approaching.<\/p>\n \u201cBoy you sure are\u2026..\u201d Marinda opened the door and found herself looking at the one person she truly hated above all others. Even though it would never have been true, Marinda felt in time Adam would have tired of the woman he had married. She felt that, while Emily was beautiful, she just wouldn\u2019t have been able to keep a man like Adam satisfied. She was just so proper. Marinda had seen them in town once and Adam had kissed his wife on the cheek and Emily had told him he shouldn\u2019t do such things in public. But this one, this Storm, could match Adam in almost everything. She was a lady without being too much of a lady, just the fact that she was standing at her door proved that. \u201cI thought I told you once he needed a woman not a little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m no longer a little girl Marinda, now get out of my way!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure? Aren\u2019t you afraid that what you will see might offend you?”<\/p>\n \u201cMove Marinda.\u201d Storm pushed past Marinda. She no sooner stepped inside the door than she saw him.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm? What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve come to get you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you honestly believe you can make him leave?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up Marinda. Adam this is wrong, you know it\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to take more than words to make him leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said shut up Marinda! If I believed being here with you was what he needed I wouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying that he needs to be with you? You think you are so much better than me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think a rat on the street is better than you. Oh it\u2019s not because of what you do it\u2019s because of what you are. Marinda there are a lot of woman who do what you do and I think no less of them but you could be the queen of England and I would think no better of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYOU. You think you\u2019re so much better than me! You\u2019re nothing more than a half-breed!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re nothing more than a whore.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam could see the rage in Marinda\u2019s eyes; he could also see the same in Storm\u2019s. He did the only thing he could think of, he stepped between them. \u201cStorm please go home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot without you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying that you would be willing to give him what he would get here?\u201d<\/p>\n Storm looked at Adam. She knew there was no use to deny it. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d Marinda couldn\u2019t believe it. \u201cOf course you would want a wedding first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d Adam was afraid to hear Storm\u2019s response to Marinda\u2019s remark. He was afraid if he did hear it he might act on it. \u201cPlease go home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Adam, I\u2019ll go, but only if you kiss me. If you can kiss me and still want to be here with her I\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n He took her face in his hands but he just couldn\u2019t kiss her. He couldn\u2019t risk feeling as he had that afternoon. He knew it for what it was even if he wasn\u2019t ready to put a name to it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Adam. I know, really I do. When you kissed me this afternoon you felt something and in feeling something you realized you could feel. Adam it wasn\u2019t love you felt, it was hope. Hope that someday you would love again. That\u2019s not betraying Emily. If she loved you as you say she did, she would want nothing more than for you to love again.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled her into his arms. \u201cWhen did you get to be such an expert on men?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot men Adam, just you.\u201d<\/p>\n Marinda watched them as they left and all she kept thinking was that this was not over.<\/p>\n Ben could only sit and hope that he had done the right thing by letting Storm go. When the clock chimed twelve o\u2019clock and she still hadn\u2019t returned, with or without Adam, he began to worry. As he watched the hour approach one he was getting ready to go into Virginia City and find her. Then he heard the horses and settled back into his chair. He didn\u2019t know if he was annoyed because they seemed to be laughing or from the relief he now felt knowing that they were safe. That was why he spoke before they had completely entered the house.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you realize how worried I\u2019ve been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Ben but\u2026..\u201d Storm heard AJ start to cry and knew she would have to give him an extra kiss tonight. \u201cbut I had best go get a bottle. Adam why don\u2019t you go get your son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGladly.\u201d Although Adam had seen his father\u2019s annoyance for what it was he was still happy not to have to hear what he was sure his father would say.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can discuss this in the morning. Right now I\u2019m just glad you\u2019re both home. Goodnight Storm, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs. Keyes arrived the following morning with a bit of news she wasn\u2019t quite sure how to tell. \u201cBen can I speak with you for a minute?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course Rebecca.\u201d Before she had a chance to begin Storm came downstairs with AJ.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Ben, Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Storm.\u201d Rebecca had hoped to speak with Ben alone but she now realized Storm had every right to know what she had to tell. \u201cStorm why don\u2019t you take AJ outside. Rebecca and I were\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Ben she should hear this as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHear what Mrs. Keyes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe new rumor going around Virginia City. It concerns what happened last night when you came to get Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on Mrs. Keyes.\u201d Storm knew of only one person who would be spreading any rumors about that and was sure it wouldn\u2019t be flattering to her, or true. \u201cMarinda said that you forced your way into her house. That you had come to fetch Adam because you didn\u2019t want him with her. She said she warned you that Adam wasn\u2019t himself, that he had been drinking, but you said it didn\u2019t matter. You told her you weren\u2019t leaving there without him. She went on to say that Adam told her to leave, that he wanted to talk to you alone. She said that she again tried to warn you that what Adam was there for wasn\u2019t talking but that you told her that anything he wanted or needed from her he could get from you. She said she left but listened outside the door just in case you might need her help. She heard you struggle a little but once she heard sounds of\u2026.well sounds that no longer sounded like struggling she went to wait at the saloon. Witnesses say she was there until twelve o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n “When she got back to her house she said it was quiet so she went in thinking that you had left but she found you waiting for her. Adam, it seemed, had fallen asleep. You said you wanted to talk to her, to tell her that Adam would never again be coming to her because he now had you. She said you told her that was your plan all along, that you knew of his wife\u2019s death even before you had returned. You told her that he would now marry you because he would see it as the right thing, the only thing, to do. She implied that it was the only way someone like you could have ever gotten Adam to marry her in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose people believe this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople did see you in town, they did see you go to Marinda\u2019s\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I had better go tell Adam. I\u2018m just not too sure how to.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm needn\u2019t have worried because while the version Adam was told was shorter it amounted to the same end.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah Stayton.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI bet it feels real nice to have two women fighting over you. It must be real good to have such a fine lady willing to do anything for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow that the whole town knows the truth there\u2019s no need for you to marry her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarry who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat Storm. Marinda told everyone how she said she came to you willingly but that she would make you think you\u2018d forced her. How she would use the guilt you\u2019d feel about taking her to trap you into marrying her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda said all this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Tell me something is a fine lady whore as good as a regular one. You see I ain\u2019t never had me a fine lady\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Not another word had a chance to pass Stayton\u2019s lips, Adam\u2019s had hit him hard enough to stop his lips from moving. When the door slammed open it startled everyone, especially AJ who had only moments before settled down.<\/p>\n \u201cNow look what you have done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Mrs. Keyes. Where is Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s upstairs getting ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReady for what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo go into town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe can\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t what Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t go into town Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I have to tell you something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s about what Marinda has said I already know, Mrs. Keyes told me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you still want to go into town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Do you think I\u2019m going to let her lies force me to hide away? The people who believe her are the same ones who have always seen me as something less than human anyway. Their opinions never mattered. The people who have any faith in me, if I don\u2019t go into town, will take my avoidance as an admission of guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust when did you get so smart?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I have always been rather smart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go and hitch up the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam if you come with me you have to promise me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo fighting. I don\u2019t care what anyone says, no fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I don\u2019t know if I can keep a promise like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThan I\u2019ll go myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam if you fight you give credence to what she\u2019s saying. If you walk away you prove that what she\u2019s saying is so totally ridiculous it\u2019s not even worth fighting over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, I promise.\u201d Adam went to hitch the wagon and Storm followed him out.<\/p>\n Ben and Rebecca just looked at each other and smiled.<\/p>\n They rode into town mostly in silence. When they finally got there it was as Storm had thought it would be. By the time she and Adam had reached the general store word had spread through the whole town that they were there.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take long before the news reached Marinda. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you have the nerve to show your face in town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Alice is there some reason I shouldn\u2019t?\u201d Alice Fisher was one of the people who believed Storm was most definitely below them.<\/p>\n \u201cSurely you must have heard that everyone knows what you did last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that everyone knows what Marinda said happened last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying she was lying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSuddenly everyone takes what Marinda says as gospel.\u201d By now a small crowd had gathered. Adam knew there was no way to stop Storm, so he just stood there and waited in case she needed him. \u201cI really don\u2019t care what you believe me to be capable of doing. That doesn\u2019t matter anymore now than it ever did. Those of you who believe me capable of this believed it for a long time. No, what surprises me, what angers me, is that you\u2019d believe it of him.\u201d<\/p>\n The truth hit Adam like a lightening bolt. How could he have been so blind? She hadn\u2019t come here to defend herself but to defend him. He saw that Marinda was making her way through the crowd as did Storm, so it was too late to grab her and run.<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda, it\u2019s so nice to see you again. I have one question I wish to ask of you. Why?\u201d Storm had met Marinda halfway through the crowd and they were now standing face to face. \u201cWhy the need to start this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about. Everything I said was the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t deny the truth. I don\u2019t deny that I came to get him and I don\u2019t deny I told you whatever he needed from you I would give him. GIVE HIM Marinda. You made it sound as if he would have needed to force me, that he would have forced me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, this is not helping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam please. I told you those who believe the worst of me have always done so. Those who believe the best have also always done so. Whether it\u2019s the ones who believe the worst or the best they both know I love you and always have. Now Marinda, you tell me why you lied. You could have told the truth and I wouldn\u2019t have cared, but once you dragged him into it, once you lied about him you made this a fight. So you tell me WHY?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWHY!? You want to know why! Because if he goes with you he will never come back to me! That other one, he would have tired of her soon enough, but not you. You would do anything to keep him happy, anything to satisfy him. She was raised in the city, you were raised here. You\u2019re the kind of woman he needs, the kind he\u2019d never tire of.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam listened and started to think that maybe Marinda was right.<\/p>\n \u201cBut why the lie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I thought it would shame you enough to make you leave. I figured you would be on the next stage out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda it doesn\u2019t matter what is thought of me, I told Adam I would never leave, not as long as he needed me. Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we go home now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to.\u201d<\/p>\n Marinda watched them go. She swore she would have Adam, one way or another.<\/p>\n CHAPTER 7<\/strong><\/p>\n One day in late September Marinda saw her chance to act on the plan she had been thinking up ever since that day in town. It was Wednesday but she had seen Mrs. Keyes in town. That meant that more than likely Storm was watching AJ alone. She knew that the Ponderosa would have every available man busy getting ready for winter. She waited until after lunch just to be sure they wouldn\u2019t be disturbed. She walked into the house without knocking. She hadn\u2019t wanted to alert anyone that she was coming but she saw no one. She stood and listened and could hear Storm upstairs singing to AJ. She waited patiently and was glad when she finally heard the door upstairs close and someone in the hall.<\/p>\n When Storm saw Marinda she couldn\u2019t imagine why she was there, but Storm being Storm thought perhaps she had come to talk about what had happened in June and decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Marinda, is there something you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething I want? I want Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n So do I thought Storm but that\u2018s not what she said, not exactly. \u201cIt\u2019s not for me to give him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou made sure he\u2019d never come back to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Marinda you made sure of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think that you\u2019re the only one who loves him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda you don\u2019t know what loving him is. If you loved him you would understand that loving him doesn\u2019t mean it will make you happy, it\u2019s just wanting him to be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying you\u2019re not glad that wife of his is dead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO! I\u2019ve seen how sad he is, I\u2019ve seen how he\u2019s hurting. There is nothing I wouldn\u2019t\u2026\u2026.Oh it doesn\u2019t matter. What do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve told you I want him, one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he comes home I will be sure to tell him.\u201d Storm made her way to the door to make sure Marinda knew the way out and that she was well aware that she was being told to take it. If Storm could have only comprehended how far Marinda was willing to go to get what she wanted she would have never turned her back to her, but Storm would have never been able to fathom Marinda\u2019s plan because to Storm love was giving not taking. As she reached out her arm to open the door she saw something shinny in Marinda\u2019s hand as it came down. She felt the pain as the knife slashed at her arm.<\/p>\n Marinda looked triumphantly at Storm sure she would see fear in her eyes, but she was disappointed. Storm wasn\u2019t afraid to die her only concern was Adam because she was sure that not even Marinda would hurt AJ.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think killing me will get you him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou really don\u2019t understand do you Storm. If I can\u2019t have him, I\u2019ll take his son. That way I will always have a part of him with me. I\u2019ll raise him as my own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe hell you will!\u201d<\/p>\n Storm\u2019s anger gave her strength. She jumped at Marinda knowing she only had to hold her off for a half an hour. Unlike Marinda she knew that they would be coming home early tonight. She and Adam were supposed to go into town, they were supposed to go to the opera house. That\u2019s why Mrs. Keyes was in town, she had taken the day off because they were to bring AJ to her for the night. She had managed to hit Marinda a few times but she didn\u2019t have a knife. She had made an attempt to grab the knife from Marinda but had only succeeded in allowing her to slice open the palm of her hand. She must have lost more blood than she had thought because she was beginning to feel very weak. She tried once more to grab Marinda\u2019s arm but fell forward as Marinda backed away.<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda please don\u2019t.\u201d She was finally pleading.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t what? Don\u2019t kill you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, don\u2019t take AJ. You say you love Adam, then you can\u2019t take his son away from him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I can, but I\u2019ll tell you what I will do I will leave him you. Let\u2019s see how much he cares for you once he realizes he lost his son because of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm tried to grab Marinda\u2019s legs before she could get to the steps, but found she barely had enough strength to reach out her arm. She looked at the clock and knew they should be home in fifteen minutes. Oh God how she prayed they would be early. She heard AJ cry as his sleep was disturbed. She again tried to delay Marinda, she knew she didn\u2019t have the strength to try and stop her.<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda, leave AJ, kill me, but leave AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it will be more satisfying to know that you will blame yourself for this. To know that he will probably hate you for it. To know that I\u2019ll have something you never will, I\u2019ll have his son.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm knew she had to get up. She had to appear unharmed because if they knew she was hurt they might delay going after AJ. She finally managed to make her way to the doorway. It was a trip that normally took only seconds, but that was walking, when you had to crawl and drag yourself it took almost five minutes. If Marinda hadn\u2019t of left the door open it might have taken Storm a few more to open it. She used the door to pull herself up and to lean on to keep her that way. When she heard the horses approaching she braced herself and tried to look strong. She gathered whatever strength she had left and used it to call out.<\/p>\n \u201cADAM! Marinda took AJ. She left ten minutes ago.\u201d She watched as they turned their horses in the direction of Marinda\u2019s trail. She managed to stay on her feet long enough for them to leave. Only after she was certain they could no longer see her did she let go.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you and Hoss keep following the trail. Little Joe you and I will go into town and get Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was only half listening to, and not really caring, what his father was saying. The only thing on his mind was that he had to get his son. If his head wasn\u2019t so consumed with that one thought he would have realized what Ben had.<\/p>\n \u201cPa! I want to go with Adam and Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph I need you to go and get Dr. Martin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoc Martin? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe would Storm ever let anyone take AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot without a fight.\u201d Little Joe was beginning to realize what his father already had.<\/p>\n \u201cRight Joe and what do you take it to mean if Marinda has taken AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat Storm lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow go get the doctor and tell Roy what\u2019s going on.\u201d Ben was afraid of what he would find waiting for him at home. He rode up and saw Storm still lying where she had fallen after they had ridden off.<\/p>\n Storm could feel someone\u2019s hand on her forehead and she managed to open her eyes. \u201cBen you should be helping Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss is with him. Don\u2019t worry they\u2019ll bring AJ home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI tried Ben. Tell Adam I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHush. Little Joe has gone to get the doctor. Let\u2019s get you inside.\u201d Ben picked her up and could feel the blood on her clothes he could see it on the ground. He carried her to her room.<\/p>\n Ben anxiously awaited not only Adam and Hoss\u2019 return but also Dr. Martin\u2019s report of how Storm was.<\/p>\n No sooner was Little Joe back with the doctor then he left to go and help his brothers. Little Joe had caught up with them just in time.<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda please give me AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s mine Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n “Marinda why don\u2019t you come here and we can talk about this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout just what it is you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI already told that half-breed what I want! I want YOU!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Marinda. Give AJ to Hoss and come to me.\u201d He saw her begin to start to walk towards Hoss. \u201cYou mean I can have you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarinda, you and I, as well as everyone else knows you\u2019ve always had me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s true, not even that half-breed has had you and I bet that wife of yours couldn\u2019t satisfy you like I can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour right Marinda.\u201d He held his breath as she drew closer and closer to Hoss. \u201cThat\u2019s right give AJ to Hoss and come to me.\u201d As soon as the baby was out of her hands she turned and ran to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam can we keep Storm to watch after AJ. I mean once we\u2019re married.\u201d<\/p>\n At the mention of Storm\u2019s name, AJ safely in his uncle\u2019s arms, Adam realized now what he couldn\u2019t before.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe.\u201d Adam took hold of Marinda. \u201cJoe come here and take Marinda.\u201d He looked into her eyes and saw the anger that came when she finally understood what was happening.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do to Storm, Marinda?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you think I did anything to her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she would never have let you take AJ, not without a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Marinda felt Little Joe tying her hands. \u201cI hope she\u2019s DEAD!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou had better pray she\u2019s not Marinda, because if she is I\u2019ll make sure you hang.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d Little Joe was afraid his brother might hang her right here.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoc Martin is already at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know I came after you as soon as I got him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPaul how is she?\u201d Ben watched as Dr. Martin came downstairs. He didn\u2019t look too pleased.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know? Ben she\u2019s lost a lot of blood, more blood than anyone I know, at least anyone living. Do you know how many cuts she has? Five on her right arm, four on her left, in addition to the one on her right palm. Of those the one on her palm is the deepest but those don\u2019t compare to the two that worry me the most. The ones in her shoulder and her side are deep, real deep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe the reason for her to hold on is finally home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, Paul how\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was relieved to see Adam and even more relieved to see AJ in Hoss\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPAUL ?\u201d Everyone could hear the fear in Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s alive Adam. Adam stay close to her. Tell her how much you need her, how much AJ needs her. Make sure she has a reason to keep fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you think I wouldn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I suppose not.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam ran upstairs to begin letting Storm know she couldn\u2019t leave, after all she had promised she wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, where\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s bringing Marinda into town. Pa is Storm really that bad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she is Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen I\u2019ll be back out tomorrow. You know where I am if you need me before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Thank you Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rebecca had at first thought that something had made Adam or Storm change their mind and that\u2019s why they hadn\u2019t brought AJ to her but once Little Joe came into town with Marinda and she heard what had happened she rode out to the Ponderosa as fast as she could. She told Ben she would stay until Storm was well.<\/p>\n She had been there three days and Adam had barely left Storm\u2019s side. On the fourth night she thought that maybe if they laid AJ in bed next to Storm she just might wake up. She picked him up and made her way to Storm\u2019s room. She stopped in the hall when she heard Adam talking.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you have to be alright, can\u2019t you see. What will AJ do without you, my God Storm what will I do without you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d She pushed the door completely open. \u201cI thought you should take a little break.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m alright. Mrs. Keyes I want to thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be silly. There is nothing to thank me for. Now why don\u2019t you go and get some coffee, I would like to have a little talk with Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like me to take AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I think she will know he\u2019s here.\u201d She watched as he bent and kissed Storm on the forehead.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there is any change or if you should need me I\u2019ll be right downstairs.\u201d He left the room slowly.<\/p>\n As soon as she was sure he was gone Rebecca sat down and began talking. \u201cStorm I want you to listen to me.\u201d Even though Rebecca knew what she was about to tell Storm was in no way true, she hoped Storm would be confused enough to perhaps believe it, or at least question it. \u201cYou realize that if you let go AJ will be the reason you die, just as he was the reason for Emily\u2019s death. What if Adam decides he can\u2019t forgive him for both?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI must say that is one tactic I hadn\u2019t thought of?\u201d Ben had seen Adam come downstairs and had decided to come see how Storm was doing.<\/p>\n \u201cOh Ben, you and I know, and even Storm knows, it\u2019s not true but if it works who cares.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue enough Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n When Adam came back into the room he found Mrs. Keyes sitting in the chair and AJ sleeping in the bed next to Storm.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam maybe we should leave him there for tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we should.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t realize how much more peacefully his son slept when he was next to Storm.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll come and get him when he wakes.\u201d Adam sat down and watched Storm sleep. Maybe he was only seeing what he was hoping to see but he would swear that since AJ was next to her she seemed to be resting easier.<\/p>\n At AJ\u2019s first cries Mrs. Keyes came to take him.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes why don\u2019t we leave him for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean let him cry? He\u2019ll wake the entire house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam? Well I suppose it\u2019s worth a try.\u201d<\/p>\n Sure enough after only one minute they would have both sworn Storm moved. After one more minute the entire house, except for Storm, was awake and in the room.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam maybe I should take him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust one more minute Mrs. Keyes. I swear she\u2019s waking up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, we all\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n Adam turned to face his father. \u201cNo pa I know she\u2019ll\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d<\/p>\n They all looked towards the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t you hear AJ? Why don\u2019t you go get him a bottle and I\u2019ll change him.\u201d<\/p>\n They watched as she made an effort to get up but was stopped not only by her lack of strength but by Adam\u2019s hand as well.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm just lay back down. Mrs. Keyes I believe you can take him now.\u201d Adam picked up his son, kissed him, and handed him to Rebecca.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Storm\u2019s memory of what had happened and why she felt so weak and tired finally returned. \u201cAdam, you got him back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you seriously doubt that I would?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I just wasn\u2019t too sure if I\u2019d be alive\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm! No more talk like that. You\u2019re alright now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose. What about Marinda?\u201d Despite what she had done Storm hoped that Adam hadn\u2019t caused her any unnecessary harm.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s in jail and I don\u2019t want you to think any more about her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over the next two weeks Storm grew stronger and more unreasonable. She became restless and bored with staying in bed. The only time she found it bearable was when Adam would come and sit with her.<\/p>\n She had been told that everyone was going into town to make arrangements for AJ\u2019s first birthday so she believed she was alone in the house. She decided that since she was alone no one would know if she got up and walked around a little by herself. It would do her good to be up and might make it easier to accept being forced to stay in bed once everyone came back, beside hadn\u2019t Dr. Martin said she was okay. She had only planned to go downstairs but once there she couldn\u2019t resist the need for some fresh air. She was standing on the porch when she could swear she heard someone in the barn. She knew it was further than she should probably venture but couldn\u2019t deny the curiosity she was feeling. When he saw her he wasn\u2019t too sure if he were more angry or relieved.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat am I doing here? What are you doing here? I thought you were going to make plans for AJ\u2019s birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe did. Everyone else chose to stay in town a little while longer. I felt a little guilty about leaving you here all alone so I decided to come and keep you company.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam can we go for a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA RIDE!?\u201d He realized two weeks was a long time for anyone to stay in one place especially Storm. \u201cNo, no ride. How about a little walk though?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Adam.\u201d He watched as a smile lit up her face. \u201cTell me about the plans so far?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have made sure everyone knows about the party and we picked up some decorations\u2026..\u201d She stepped in front of him and placed her hands on his arms. She knew while this was AJ\u2019s birthday it was also the anniversary of Emily\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam how are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m alright Storm. Of course if you had asked me that a year ago I would have told you the same thing, but I wouldn\u2019t have meant it then. I do now.\u201d He looked at her and decided to give into what he felt like doing. He picked her up in his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I can walk.\u201d In spite of her attempt at sounding cross he could hear the laughter in her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you have done enough walking for today, besides you use to like when I carried you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just a child then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see, and now that you are no longer a child you no longer like it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that, it\u2019s just when I was young being in your arms always made me feel safe, secure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it no longer does?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no place I feel safer, but now there is something else as well and it scares me a little.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does it scare you?\u201d Adam didn\u2019t need to ask what it was, that was clearly written in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I so want you to feel it too and I know that I can\u2019t make you no more than I can make papa and it\u2019s too soon to expect you too. Besides you need someone who would never do anything to put AJ in danger. You need someone like Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n He knew why she felt what had happened was her fault. Roy had told him how Marinda had said it was all Storm\u2019s fault. How if she hadn\u2019t come back none of it would have ever happened. She had also told him of how Storm had begged her to kill her instead of take AJ away and to Marinda that was an admission of guilt on Storm\u2018s part but Adam saw it for what it was. He knew that Storm loved his son so much that she would have gladly sacrificed herself for him.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I already had Emily. Would you like to know something, she told me that I needed someone like you.\u201d<\/p>\n He let her legs go so that she was once again standing on her own two feet but he that was the only part of her he released.<\/p>\n \u201cBut she didn\u2019t even know me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo she didn\u2019t. She only knew what I told her, as you only know about her what I\u2019ve told you.”<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam I know so much more than that. I know you loved her and that tells me more than words ever could.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know something you two were so opposite. Emily was blonde hair and blue eyed; you are dark hair and brown eyed. She was quiet and reserved, you\u2026well you are anything but. There are so many differences between you two and yet your spirits are so alike.\u201d He began to wonder, had he been drawn to Emily because she had in some way reminded him of Storm?<\/p>\n \u201cI know of one more way we\u2019re alike.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur hearts, because both of them belong to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Storm.\u201d He gently pressed his lips to hers.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarry me Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Had he just said what she thought he had?<\/p>\n \u201cMarry me.\u201d He couldn\u2019t believe how easily those words had passed his lips. When he had asked Emily he had planned for a whole week and down to the last detail.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, because Emily said you needed someone like me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo because I love you. Please Storm believe that I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI so want to believe you, so very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen do. I\u2019m asking you to believe me but if asking doesn\u2019t work I\u2019ll beg you to.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the discussion could go any further Ben arrived home with AJ. \u201cWell it\u2019s good to see you up and about Storm. I\u2019m sorry Adam but your son got tired of all the excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa I need your help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy help? Help with what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn convincing Storm that the reason I\u2019m asking her to marry me is because I love her. For some reason she\u2019s having a hard time believing that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was going to be something hard. Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHas he ever lied to you?\u201d Ben didn\u2019t wait for an answer; he just took his grandson out of the back of the wagon and went inside. As he walked he whispered something to AJ that he would always swear made him smile \u201cIt looks like she\u2019s going to be your mommy in name too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Although they didn\u2019t officially announce their plans until Christmas, anyone who saw Storm and Adam together knew that what everyone believed would have happened sooner had Storm not gone to England would be happening soon. Not even an unfortunate incident that occurred at AJ\u2019s birthday could completely dampen the joy they felt.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam would you mind very much if I wrote and invited Lord Duncan?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would I mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t quite honest with you about who he was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean regarding the fact that you were supposed to marry him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know about that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, same as I know you\u2019re hoping that he will tell your father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam why does he hate me so?\u201d Adam knew this was one ache he could never take away from her.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he\u2019s a fool Storm.\u201d He took her in his arms hoping to ease her hurt but it was AJ who made her smile.<\/p>\n Storm felt a small tug on her skirt. She looked down into a small version of Adam and swore they both had the same expression of concern.<\/p>\n \u201cMama.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Adam not too sure if he would be angry. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n He knew what her question was. \u201cStorm you are his mother. In his eyes and in mine. When he is old enough to understand we will tell him about Emily, but even then she will just be someone he\u2019ll think of as his mother but you will be his mother. In his thoughts, in his heart, in his soul.\u201d He bent down and picked up their son. \u201cNow why don\u2019t you go write your letter.\u201d<\/p>\n She went upstairs and sat down in front of a blank piece of paper for what felt like hours. She wasn\u2019t sure of where to begin. She had written to Lord Duncan at last once a month ever since he had left and he had written back. He told her of what was going on and let her know how her father was doing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear George,<\/p>\n I hope this finds you as well as my previous letters have. There is something I have to tell you, something I need to ask of you. Adam and I are to be married come September. I hope you will consider attending. I know you will tell papa of this as ,I am sure, you have told him of every other letter I have sent, even though he has in no way acknowledged them. Please give serious thought to coming but know that I will understand if you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Love, Storm<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She placed the paper into an envelope and addressed it. She then went in search of the man who would soon be her husband. She finally found him lying in bed with AJ. She could see he was half asleep, thankfully, AJ was completely asleep. She stood there and watched Adam and the longer she stood the greater the urge to kiss him became, until she could no longer deny it. She bent over and touched her lips to his. She was about to stand up when she felt his hand behind her head. She found that even after his hand moved from her neck her lips remained on his. She felt as he placed both his hands on her hips and before she knew what was happening she found herself stretched out on top of him. She could feel their bodies touching in places they never had before. She now found herself with a slight problem, if she rolled one way she would be on the floor and if she rolled the other she would be on top of AJ so she stayed where she was. She raised her head slightly so as to allow her the ability to look into his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n He now realized it hadn\u2019t been a good idea to pull her to him but it had seemed to be at the time. He could feel his need for her growing and he could tell by the unspoken question she had just asked she could feel it too. He sat up and in doing so forced Storm to do the same. He lifted her off of him and began to leave the room.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo jump in Lake Tahoe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh sweetheart, not to drown myself. It\u2019s just that that is the coldest water around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a very long time Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n She knew what he meant and knew it had been longer than it would have been had she not come back. \u201cAnd no man is a saint.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow it\u2019s I who doesn\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Mrs. Keyes told me when I asked her if you had ever been with a woman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. So you no longer see me as a saint.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I don\u2019t want you to be a saint; I need you to be a man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm this is not helping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam. I need you. I don\u2019t fully understand how I know that but I know I need you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I want you to listen to me.\u201d He should have never closed his eyes but he found if he didn\u2019t see her it was easier to deny what he wanted, but in doing so it gave Storm the courage to act on something she wanted to do without fearing she would see judgment in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart,\u201d He hadn\u2019t heard her get off the bed. He didn\u2019t know she had until he felt her hands on his chest. \u201cSTORM!\u201d His shout had done what even the cold waters of Lake Tahoe would have had a hard time doing, it awoke the one thing that could make both of them forget about what they\u00a0<\/em>wanted and needed.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam why don\u2019t you go get a bottle and I\u2019ll change him.\u201d<\/p>\n AJ was now sleeping through the night, unfortunately, Storm wasn\u2019t. She had grown so use to waking up every two hours or so that it would take some time for her to break out of that habit. Normally she would sit and read or go downstairs and watch the embers glow in the fireplace. On some nights she would go stand outside and watch the stars. On those nights she wondered if her mother was watching her, if Emily was happy that she would be raising her son. On this particular night she had decided to go and check on AJ before going downstairs. In order to do this she had to pass by Adam\u2019s room. Since his door was usually closed there was no danger of her being distracted but on this night for some reason his door was open. She told herself she would only peek in to make sure everything was alright. That was all that she intended on doing. Somehow, though, she found herself standing next to his bed.<\/p>\n Once again she watched him sleeping and once again she felt the need to kiss him and yet again she gave into that need. This time he didn\u2019t gently take hold of her but grabbed her and pulled her into the bed beside him. This time she found herself lying beneath him but still their bodies touched in places that awoke a hunger in her she didn\u2019t fully understand. Adam opened his eyes to realize this was no longer just a dream.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm! What are you doing in here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to check on AJ but I saw your door open. It\u2019s usually shut so I thought that perhaps something was wrong. I didn\u2019t mean to come in, honest Adam I didn\u2019t. I was standing in the hall one minute and the next I was kissing you. It was almost as if you called to me but not with words. Oh Adam I swear I heard you call me with every part of my body but my ears. I know that makes no sense.\u201d<\/p>\n He began to consider what he had been dreaming and thought it made perfect sense but was she really so attuned to him that she could respond to his dreams? \u201cStorm I need you to promise me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat you will not come into this room again, whether or not the door is open. As Mrs. Keyes said I am not a saint, I am a man who needs you, one that wants you but I am also one that loves you. It is because of that love that I will try to hold off on fulfilling that need or want until after we are married but a man can only take so much Storm. Even I have a breaking point and if you come into this room like this again I am afraid I will pass it. So promise me, PROMISE ME, you will at least try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Adam, I promise to try but I want you to understand something; I know it should be me who is stopping you. I know it should be harder for a man but\u2026..Oh God Adam I\u2019ve wanted you for so long. Long before you ever saw me as something other than a child.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart I began to see you as a more than a child a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I\u2019ve just been back for a little over a year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was long before that, before you left for England even. You remember that party before your sixteenth birthday? Pa was right; you did become a very beautiful woman. Maybe if you hadn\u2019t of gone\u2026..\u201d He let the rest remain unspoken. He became lost in the thoughts that idea stirred.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t of gone and you had married me you would have never met Emily. You would have never married her and we wouldn\u2019t have AJ now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah and maybe she would be alive and you would be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam! You are no more to blame for Emily\u2019s death then I am to blame for my mothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a bit more of a chance of me being found to have contributed to\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam are you saying you would give AJ back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, of course not, but if I had known what would happen beforehand I\u2019m not too sure of what I would have done. Now go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, go.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm left not seeing the foreshadowing of things to come in the conversation just past.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss where is Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not too sure. She said she was going for a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam could tell there was more on his brother\u2019s mind. He just waited for him to think of the right words to tell him what it was.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, she seemed to be kinda upset. When she left I told her to wait just a minute and I\u2019d go with her but she said she\u2019d be alright and that she wanted to be alone. You don\u2019t think she\u2019s upset because she hasn\u2019t heard from Lord Duncan, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Hoss, if anything has her upset it\u2019s that she hasn\u2019t heard from Matt.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt? Skye. How could he have been so forgetful?<\/p>\n \u201cHoss what is today\u2019s date?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe it\u2019s the seventh, why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know where she\u2019s gone. Hoss when pa gets back with AJ remind him of what day it is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean the seventh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, the day Skye was killed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Storm rode to the house that she had once been so happy in. On the way there she wondered who had bought it. Had they changed it much? It hadn\u2019t been a grand house, but it was more than just a one room cabin. She had often felt that next to the Ponderosa it was the most splendid of houses anywhere. The house that greeted her was wonderful. She had feared that whoever had bought it had torn down the house her father had built, but they hadn\u2019t, instead they had added on to it. She found herself believing it was now as grand as the Ponderosa itself.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should have reminded me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you startled me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou should have reminded me. I would have never left you; I would have never taken AJ away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Adam. Last year I was\u2026well so worried about you I didn\u2019t really have time to think about it but today? I just wanted to come here. Adam do you know who bought it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you like it Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike it? Adam it\u2019s spectacular. If I were to have a house of my own, I\u2019d want one just like this. Adam, do you think they would mind very much if I asked to go inside?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think they would mind at all. Of course they won\u2019t be home until September.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d September? Come September she would be occupied with other things. Perhaps planning a house of her own.<\/p>\n Adam could see the thoughts going through her mind. He had wanted it to be a surprise but seeing how sad she was he chose not to wait. \u201cYou didn\u2019t honestly believe we would have let anyone else live here, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou bought it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes we did. I think partly because if it were still in a way yours then we could always hold on to the hope that you would return.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm, at first, didn\u2019t understand why they would change the house if it had only been bought as a memento of sorts. Then the truth began to dawn on her. \u201cAdam is this\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOurs. It will be our house. Would you still like to go inside?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were going to surprise me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had hoped to but that doesn\u2019t matter. If it will make you feel better then we can go inside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright I already feel better.\u201d Suddenly another question occurred to Storm. \u201cAdam, where did\u2026I mean I would\u2026..Adam you didn\u2019t have to build another house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I don\u2019t think you would have been happy in the house Emily and I shared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I would have been happy anywhere with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that but you and Emily\u2019s ideas of a perfect house are also another way in which you differ. You love a house to fit into the land it stands on. To almost be lost in it. Emily loved a house that was grand, one that would have been more at place in a town or city. Would you like to see it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to, if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I don\u2019t mind. I haven\u2019t gone there in a while and having you with me will make it easier.\u201d He went to help her onto her horse only because it was the right thing to do, not because he thought Storm needed him to. He put his hands on her waist but before he could begin to help her up she turned around to face him.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d Why was it just a slight change in the tone of her voice could affect him so?<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, please.\u201d It was no use. He could see by her eyes she wasn\u2019t hearing the meaning of his words, or at least they were not what she was responding to. \u201cAdam this is our house, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be after we are married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just it Adam, we are going to be married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn a little over two months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there is nothing that could make you change your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I love you. There is nothing in this world that could change that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs our house furnished?\u201d<\/p>\n Foolishly he believed her curiosity was getting the better of her, and he was right, just wrong about what that curiosity was about. It was only after he looked into her eyes that there could be no question. \u201cAre you asking me if every room is furnished?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot every one, just one in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam, why do we have to wait? WHY? It won\u2019t change anything if we don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm,\u201d He tried very hard to think of something. \u201cfor the life of me I can\u2019t think of anything.\u201d He saw her smile. \u201cSave one thing, you are not my wife yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I have always been your wife, at least in my mind. When I was young I thought a wife kept her husband happy by seeing he was fed and keeping his house clean, sharing his bed and raising his children. I didn\u2019t know then that they used that bed for something other than sleep because I didn\u2019t know how those children came to be but once Mrs. Keyes explained it to me, oh Adam I wanted to be your wife in that way too. I know I shouldn\u2019t be saying these things, I shouldn\u2019t even be thinking them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you are you and God how I love you. Now do you still wish to go and see the other house because there is no way I am going to take you in there now.\u201d<\/p>\n They did go and Adam told Storm everything there was to tell about him and Emily. It was only later that Adam realized most other woman would have resented having to listen to him go on and on the way he had, but not Storm. She actually had stopped him a few times and asked questions. He hadn\u2019t meant to say so much but had found once he started he couldn\u2019t stop. It was as if in telling Storm it became a part of their life, that Emily became a part of their life. Only later did he realize that in allowing that to happen Storm had insured that there would never be anything between them. In eagerly offering to share all aspects of his past it would mean he would never be hesitant to share anything in his future. It also made him realize he would have to keep his eyes open and mind sharp because his soon to be wife was smarter than he had even thought. It wasn\u2019t that she had done it that had made him realize this but because she had done it not because she consciously knew the effect it would have but because instinctively she knew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 9<\/strong><\/p>\n One day in late July visitors came to the Ponderosa and they brought with them some very bad memories and even worse news.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew, Judith it is so good of you to come to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Ben. I would like to introduce to you my sister Estelle Blunt. She is visiting from England and wished to see Emily\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben did not fail to notice how Andrew had referred to AJ as his daughter\u2019s son, as if Adam had nothing to do with his existence. Ben refrained from pointing out that if it weren\u2019t for Adam there would be no AJ, knowing in pointing that out Andrew would in turn point out that if it weren\u2019t for Adam he felt his daughter would still be alive. \u201cOf course. I recall you mentioning her. You wanted to invite her to the wedding but said she would never have enough time to come from England.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s correct Ben and although I tried I was told the wedding would not be delayed. I did of course write and tell her of Emily\u2019s death and she came as soon as she could.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course Andrew. I would offer to go and get AJ except that he\u2019s not here at the moment. When it\u2019s this warm Storm usually likes to take him down by the river. Today Adam is teaching him how to fish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, that would be the young lady we met at AJ\u2019s birthday, the one Adam is now going to marry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it would be Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy brother tells me her name is Storm Kendall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, perhaps you knew her in England.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe we may have met.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I\u2019m sure you will have to agree with me that she is a wonderful person.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I didn\u2019t know her very well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a pity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen, I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m rather tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course Judith, please forgive me. I will show you to your rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t want to impose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is no imposition Andrew. I\u2019m sure Adam wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. I hope you will forgive me though, but while you are resting there is an appointment I must keep. Please feel as if this is your home I won\u2019t be long.\u201d \u00a0 For some reason Ben felt it best if Adam were warned that they had guests. He rode to where he knew he, Storm and AJ would be. He stopped and looked down to where they were. He could see Storm sitting on the blanket watching his son and grandson by the river. He could clearly hear their laughter. How he hated to go and spoil what was such a welcome sight.<\/p>\n \u201cBen. So you decided to join us after all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Storm. I need to speak with Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay I\u2019ll go get him.\u201d She didn\u2019t know what was wrong but she could tell something was. She stayed by the river with AJ while Adam went to speak with his father.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are they here? I mean not that they don\u2019t have a right to want to see AJ, just why like this? If they had written of their arrival I would have made sure to have AJ home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know Adam. It\u2019s almost as if they didn\u2019t want us to have time to prepare for their coming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever it is he wants I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll find out.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t believe Emily\u2019s mother felt the same as her husband as for Emily\u2019s aunt he had never met her so he couldn\u2019t judge one way or the other. The only thing he knew of her was that Emily had told him she barely knew her and wouldn\u2018t delay their wedding for someone she barely knew, he also knew that Emily was afraid that if the wedding was delayed she might lose her courage to defy her father.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think we should tell Storm, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think we had better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cADAM! Come quick! AJs caught something.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam went towards the welcome sound of laughter and Ben rode back to the house.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the size of this fish.\u201d As she looked at Adam she could feel the smile leave her face. He looked somehow worried.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah papa look at fish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sure is a big one AJ but did you catch it all by yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo sweetheart. Maybe we should head on back to the house. There are some people there who want to see AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam recognized the protective tone in her voice and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah papa who?\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled even more at AJ\u2019s attempt to copy Storm\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember Grandma Judith and Grandpa Andrew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, just grandpa grandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, how can you expect him to remember. He was just a year old and he hasn\u2019t seen them since.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah and we know the reason for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, it doesn\u2019t matter, it\u2019s not my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n But that wasn\u2019t what Emily\u2019s father believed. At AJ\u2019s birthday he had made it very clear that he did blame Adam for his daughter\u2019s death.<\/p>\n The ride back to the house wasn\u2019t exceptionally long but it was long enough for AJ to fall asleep.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Judith, Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Adam, Miss Kendall. I see my grandson is asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a very busy day Mr. King. Adam why don\u2019t you give him to me and I\u2019ll carry him upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam handed AJ over to Storm not too sure of what would happen once she was gone.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you will forgive me Andrew, but is there a purpose behind your visit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mean that I have to have a reason to come and see my grandson? Isn\u2019t that reason enough? Or are you telling me that we are not welcome here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you\u2019re welcome. It\u2019s just knowing how you feel about me I didn\u2019t honestly believe you would wish to be in my company for any length of time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell seeing as to how for now in order do see my grandson I have to see you it would appear as if I have no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew please. Adam you must forgive him.\u201d In spite of how her husband felt Judith knew that Adam had made her daughter happier than she would have ever been if he had not come into her life.<\/p>\n \u201cMust I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm had put AJ in his bed and quickly went to join the Adam downstairs. It was then for the first time that Storm noticed the other woman who was there.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Blunt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Miss. Kendall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI must say it is quite a surprise to see you here.\u201d<\/p>\n And, Storm thought, not a welcome one.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it is. I have come to see my grand nephew. You see Emily was my niece.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm knew her presence meant only trouble. She needed to speak with Adam because there was something he needed to know.<\/p>\n Storm had tried all night to find a moment to be alone with Adam but had failed. If she didn\u2019t feel what she needed to tell him to be so very important she would have never broken her promise.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm please, not now.\u201d He knew the uncertainty, fear if you will, that he was feeling would weaken his defenses. He knew that to have Storm in his arms tonight would make everything seem better. He also knew that if she were to spend the night in his arms he would most definitely prove to her he was not a saint. In an attempt to keep to the spirit if not the letter of her promise Storm didn\u2018t take another step nearer to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam you don\u2019t understand. Her being here only means trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer who? Emily\u2019s mother? Storm it is not her mother that worries me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot her mother, her aunt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI take that to mean you know her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Let\u2019s just say that I came between her and a long wished for desire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat desire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer desire to be Lady Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo just what is it you think she wants?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know Adam, not exactly. I only know that she hates me and blames me for something I had nothing to do with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds as if she and her brother are very much alike.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The following morning the true reason for the visit was revealed. Adam had asked Storm to keep AJ upstairs when Andrew had said he wanted to talk with him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you insane?! Do you honestly think I will let you take AJ away from me?! He\u2019s my SON!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes and Emily was my daughter! Yet you took her away! You killed her!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Judith! He took my daughter against my wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo now you think you will take my son against mine?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will take it to a court of law. I don\u2019t think there is anyone who will believe that I am not a better choice for raising him. At least with me he will know who is real mother is, not believe her to be a half-breed.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam wasn\u2018t too sure of what angered him more, that Andrew would think they wouldn\u2018t tell AJ of Emily or that he seemed to think Storm was a bad mother.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew if that is the only reason you have you will find that there are a lot of people who will testify to just how good a mother Storm is to AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes that very well may be Adam but everyone has a price.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFunny, you never found mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJudith, Estelle, I think it would be best if we go stay in town.\u201d<\/p>\n After they were gone Adam didn\u2019t know just where to turn. He knew if it came right down to it, if this became a battle fueled by cash, he had no hope of beating Andrew King.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam. He could never win.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not too sure of that pa but I am sure that Storm not be told of this, at least not what Andrew feels to be his most compelling reason he would be allowed to take AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n It was already too late for that. Storm had already heard. She couldn\u2019t help but hear the worry in Adam\u2019s raised voice and had gone to do whatever she could to calm him down. She had turned back when she had heard what Andrew King had said. She knew what she had to do. No matter how much it hurt, she knew. She had to wait for three days to follow through with her plan. Three days of watching Adam fall apart, of watching everyone fall apart. Perhaps that was for the best, it helped to make her solution a little easier to carry out.<\/p>\n It gave her more of a reason. Storm was upstairs trying to decide what to take when she heard the knock on the door. Since she was alone in the house it would be up to her to answer it.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Mrs. King. I\u2019m afraid there is no one here but me. Now if you will please excuse me I was in the middle of something. If you would like to wait for someone else please make yourself comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually I came to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. King I am very busy. Please excuse me if I don\u2019t have the time to talk to you.\u201d And besides, Storm thought, once today is over there will be no need.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is rather important.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as important as my leaving before Adam and AJ return!\u201d She went upstairs and back to her packing. She barely noticed that Judith followed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re leaving? I thought you loved them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do Mrs. King but if I go I take away what your husband seems to think is his one legally acceptable reason for taking AJ. It will also give Estelle what she wants without making your husband hurt them. In time I hope Adam will forgive me, perhaps understand why I left. AJ; he\u2019s young, he will forget me. I would rather leave and have Adam hate me then to stay and be the reason he loses not only his son but the Ponderosa as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you think they would lose the Ponderosa?”<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your husband has made it quite clear that this will be a battle that will be fought until one side runs out of money. While they have money Mrs. King, it is no where near as much as you and your husband have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou love Adam very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd yet you would walk away? Most women would be happy to have any reminder of their husbands other wife taken away. They would be happy if they didn\u2019t have to share him with something that would bring to mind another woman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose are selfish women Mrs. King. Ones who don\u2019t know the true meaning of loving someone. I could never hate AJ because he isn\u2019t my son, I can only love him because he is Adam\u2019s. If Adam sees Emily in him it\u2019s alright because I see Adam in him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe your leaving will make any difference. You see you are not the reason Andrew is trying to take AJ away. You may be what he is using as a motive but you are not the cause.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, I remember. Your husband feels Adam is responsible for Emily\u2019s death. He feels if she had stayed in San Francisco she would still be alive. Do you believe that as well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Emily never was very strong, even as a child, but she loved Adam and he loved her. It wouldn\u2019t have mattered if she were here or in San Francisco; if it were Adam\u2019s child or another man\u2019s. At least with Adam she knew what true love was, what it was to be truly happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill if I go, what excuse could he use then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know but he\u2019ll find one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you have to talk to him. You have to convince him that he\u2019s wrong. You have to tell him to stop listening to his sister. She is only doing this to try and hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you know she was the one who put this idea into his head?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she hates me and would do anything to hurt me. She wouldn\u2019t care how many innocent people got hurt to accomplish that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright I will talk to him with one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat condition?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat you unpack and stay. I believe you when you say that you love Adam but even more I believe you when you say you love AJ. Someone told me how you almost died trying to protect him. I know Emily could never want for anyone better then you to be like a mother to her son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. King, I am not like his mother, I am his mother. I may not have given birth to him but I have been here since he was six months old. I have tried to ease the pain he felt when he was teething, I have changed countless diapers, I have fed him endless bottles. There were nights I couldn\u2019t fall asleep because he had a fever and he would sleep only when I held him. Adam tried but as I told him I\u2019m soft where he\u2019s hard. Mrs. King I don\u2019t want to leave him. I remember how excited we all were when he took his first steps. I can remember how upset I was when he fell and got hurt, I don\u2019t know who cried more him or me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe it was you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what is going on?\u201d He had noticed that she appeared to be packing. \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not going anywhere Adam and neither is AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying that you can convince Andrew to stop this Judith?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm is right. There is no mistaking that Andrew will put every cent he has into this fight. Unfortunately for Andrew most of the money is mine. It would seem, Adam, that you have given me the same strength you gave Emily. You have given me the strength to stand up to Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad to hear it Judith but it may not be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is someone downstairs who would like to see you Storm. Someone who just may be able to end this before it can begin.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm followed Judith and Adam downstairs. She wasn\u2019t too sure who would be waiting but there was a very small part of her that hoped it would be her father.<\/p>\n \u201cGeorge!\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone could see she was happy to see him but only Adam could hear the slight disappointment in her voice and he could guess why.<\/p>\n \u201cNow she calls me George.\u201d He was happy to receive the same greeting that Ben had when they had first arrived at the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so very happy that you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot nearly as happy as I am to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm noticed that there were two more guests that had arrived.\u201cLady Olivia? Ivy! What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s us just say that George finally came to his senses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGiven time I find that most men will recognize what has always been right in front of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and George looked at each other knowing exactly what was being implied.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least Storm yours didn\u2019t take quite as long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you write and tell me? You should have let me know you were to marry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t wish to upset you.\u201d George had thought that upon learning of his plans to marry that Storm would be upset to think that she could be so easily replaced in his heart and he knew nothing was further from the truth. He found he still did love Storm, loving her was not something one could stop doing, it was just a different kind of love.<\/p>\n \u201cNow why would it have upset me? To know that you were happy could only have made me happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Storm it\u2019s just that I keep forgetting what a remarkable person you are. I am glad to see that he has realized it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it would seem that you and Adam have switched places. You went from loving me as woman to loving me as a sister and Adam has finally opened his eyes to see I am no longer a child.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mean to interrupt, but just how is it that this gentleman can stop my husband?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not too sure if I can stop your husband, but I can stop Estelle. If she is the one who started this I will make sure she finds a way to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy making sure she knows that if she ever wishes to show her face in Europe again she will stop this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow could you stop her from returning to Europe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t stop her from returning I could just make sure she would not be very well accepted when she did. You see there I am Lord George Duncan and there titles carry a great deal of weight.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time in a while Storm felt optimistic. She didn\u2019t want to talk of this anymore so she changed the subject to one she was always happy to talk about.<\/p>\n \u201cSo tell me Ivy do you think I lied, or do you agree with me that he is one of the handsomest men you have ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike her Adam knew that not all woman were of the same opinion as to what made a man handsome and he didn\u2018t like that she had just put this poor young lady on the spot.<\/p>\n \u201cWell Adam I would like to know if I was exaggerating as some had suggested or if I have been found to have been telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will tell you that you were most definitely telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Lady Olivia.\u201d For the first time in many days Storm heard laughter pass Adams\u2019s lips. \u201cOh Adam it is so good to see you smile.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to smile.\u201d He pulled her too him which made everyone else around them smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Andrew and Estelle showed up for their next meeting they were surprised to find Lord Duncan in attendance as well. Judith, of course, knew he would be there although she had been asked to keep it from the others.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Duncan?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Estelle.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised to see you here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI came to attend Storm\u2019s wedding and upon hearing of the trouble that is occurring I have offered whatever help I can, but of course you wouldn\u2019t understand that would you. You could never understand how after being refused by her I would want to see her happy, why I would wish to help her. You could never understand that because in order for you too you would have to have an understanding of what it really means to care for someone. I only want what is best for her and I believe what is best for her is Adam. So if you or your brother continues to try and hurt Storm by hurting Adam I will do whatever is in my power to stop you. Whether that aide comes in the form of money here or influence in England, I will stop at nothing to stop you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLord Duncan you have no right to interfere. He is my grandson.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally Mr. King? Are you saying the only reason you are trying to take AJ away from his father is because you believe it to be in his best interest? Then why have you waited almost two years. Why did this only occur to you only after your sister suggested it. Tell me did your sister return because she found out about your daughter\u2019s death or because she found out who Adam was to marry? You, sir, are not serving your purpose, you are serving hers.\u201d<\/p>\n Judith could see her husband as he began to doubt his sister\u2019s motives and while he was she decided to try and give him reason to doubt his actions.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew, Emily wouldn\u2019t want this. You say that you love her, then why would you do something you know in your heart she wouldn\u2019t want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying Judith that you believe she would be a good mother to our grandson\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know she would be. Emily please forgive me for what I am about to say, Adam I beg your forgiveness too. Andrew I believe she will be a better mother then Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you saying!? You don\u2019t think your own daughter would have been a good mother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO, she would have been a wonderful mother! I just don\u2019t think she could have died to keep AJ safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe died giving him life Judith!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t her choice. I know she accepted it and I\u2019m sure she didn\u2019t regret it, but it wasn\u2019t her choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what you\u2019re saying is that, given the choice, your daughter would have sacrificed her son to save herself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a fine line between saying you would die to save someone and actually being capable of doing it. Adam you know as well as I that Emily wasn\u2019t that strong. Storm, give me your hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJudith?\u201d It was not because she was embarrassed by the scar but because Storm was not the type of person who liked to have her sacrifices displayed for the world to see. When she did something it wasn\u2019t to have others praise her but because it was the right thing to do. Her mother had once told her that the greatest deeds are those unknown.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Storm. You asked me to try and stop this then help me too.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm looked at Adam. He smiled at her and nodded so she offered her hand to Judith.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew, that cut alone would have made our daughter stop fighting. Chances are she would have fainted. The fact that she is weaker than Storm didn\u2019t make me love Emily less, that was just who she was. It doesn\u2019t mean she loved AJ less than Storm. I know she would have fought until she couldn\u2019t any longer. Her strength her fortitude is just less than Storm\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you\u2018re saying she should have never come here? That if she had stayed in San Francisco she would still be alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps, but she would be miserable. Andrew would you have wanted your daughter to live her whole life not knowing what love was. I know you Andrew and I know you loved her. I know that you would have sacrificed your life to save her. You saw how happy Adam made her and the only reason you tried to discourage her was because you knew as well as I what that would mean. You knew that she would follow him anywhere. You also know that it wouldn\u2019t have mattered if it were Adam or some other man, if it were here or back in San Francisco. Andrew you may continue this if you wish but you will find that you stand alone. I will no longer be beside you and I am sure you will find that your sister has discovered that this can no longer be beneficial to her. She may wish to hurt Storm but not at what it may cost her to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEstelle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell Andrew I do have to get back to my own life?”<\/p>\n \u201cBut you said it was for the best. You told me that she was a bad person. That because of her father and Lord Duncan people turned their heads to the person she truly is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. King, you still have time. My father has blamed me for my mother\u2019s death since I was ten years old and yet I still wish he would love me. Because of that I know Adam would forgive you if you would only ask him too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think I have done something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou blame him for something that he is not guilty of, so yes you have done something wrong. He loved your daughter. I know that because no one knows Adam as well as I do. He has been a part of my life for a very long time and he has been in my heart for just as long. Mr. King, Adam would never deny you the right to be a part of AJ\u2019s life I\u2019m just sure he would prefer it if you and he could at least be amicable towards each other, if only for AJ\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that true? If I offered you my hand would you take it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you try and find out?\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew King held out his hand uncertain if he deserved to be forgiven. Adam took it as Storm knew he would.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew, Judith how would you like to come and spend the day with your grandson.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe would like that very much, wouldn\u2019t we Andrew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Judith. I would like nothing more than to spend the day with your son Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Estelle got back to her life and Andrew King started living his again. He even admitted that Adam wasn\u2019t quite as bad as he had originally thought. When he and Judith left for San Francisco they did so with a promise to return for the wedding. As the days passed Storm was grateful to have so many people to help her. Lady Olivia and Mrs. Keyes were like mothers to her. They offered her advice and help as all mothers do. Ivy was a friend, a sister almost, someone Storm confided things to as all sisters do. Ivy had been one of the few girls her age in England who hadn\u2019t looked down on her because they felt she was not their equal.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm do you think we could go riding today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIvy, Storm has other things to do besides go riding with you today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes mother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Ivy, I think I could use a ride. It will help to clear my head and make me forget about all the things I should be worrying about. I never realized how much work goes into planning a wedding. I\u2019m beginning to think that Adam and I should have just eloped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh God forbid. You know as well as I that Ben would have never forgiven you.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca knew that Ben would love nothing more than to see his son marry here in Nevada.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he would have, at least he would have after his grandchild was born, but I still could use a ride. Why don\u2019t you and Lady Olivia stay here and keep on planning. You know as well as I that I have managed to secure the most difficult item for this wedding. I have supplied the groom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes you most certainly have.\u201d<\/p>\n After she and Ivy had been riding for a short while Storm asked what she wouldn\u2019t before. She knew if she had Ivy would have been embarrassed and may have changed her mind about going riding and Storm did truly wish to get away for a while, if only a short while.<\/p>\n \u201cSo just where is the destination you wish to arrive at?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you know I wanted to go someplace in particular?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I just guessed. Ivy you like Little Joe don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is rather charming. Oh I don\u2019t think I can say I love him but he is fun to be with. I know that sounds rather wicked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI find that the Cartwright men can bring out the wickedness in most women.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I don\u2019t want you to think that he has done anything that is in any way improper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you telling me that in all this time he hasn\u2019t even kissed you? I\u2019ll be sure to ask Adam to have a talk with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you are being wicked. Storm you wouldn\u2019t really talk about such things with Adam would you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIvy there is nothing I haven\u2019t talked to Adam about already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut about things such as that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIvy I have known Adam since I was four years old. He has taught me a number of things but mainly to never be afraid or ashamed to talk to him about anything. I am sure there have been times he has regretted that slightly but he has never turned me away. He hasn\u2019t always answered my questions but he has never ignored them or made me feel as if I had been foolish to ask them. On the few occasions he didn\u2019t give me an answer he would tell me I wasn\u2019t old enough or he felt I wasn\u2019t ready to know the answers. I might have argued a little that I was but only because I liked to try and sway him. Truth is I always respected his judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you make him sound so wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is Ivy and if we don\u2019t stop talking about him I am going to leave you right here and find him and once I do I will proceed to kiss him until my lips hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM. You truly are wicked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI may be but at least I\u2019m speaking of the man who will soon be my husband. You have taken me away from my wedding plans under the pretense of only wishing to go for a ride when in actuality you wish to find a man that you consider to be charming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n They knew they had reached their destination when they spotted Little Joe and Adam working to repair some fencing.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Little Joe; Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam didn\u2019t mistake the tone in Storm\u2019s voice when she had said his name for anything less than what it was.Unfortunately Little Joe was too intent on Ivy to have noticed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you two doing out here? I thought you would be busy making plans.\u201d<\/p>\n The way Storm was staring at him made Adam feel even warmer then he had in spite of the fact that he had removed his shirt long before she had ever arrived.<\/p>\n \u201cIvy wished to go for a ride.\u201d God why couldn\u2019t she take her eyes off of him? \u201cLittle Joe why don\u2019t you take Ivy up to the bluff. I don\u2019t feel like riding anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds like a very good idea.\u201d Little Joe liked Ivy too but like her he knew it wouldn\u2019t lead to love, he just enjoyed being with her.<\/p>\n \u201cJOSEPH. Storm you should know better than to give him an excuse to stop working.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs I see it Adam I am going to be your wife so I may as well get use to helping you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere you go Adam, besides the hardest part is already done all Storm has to do is hold the poles straight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJOSEPH.\u201d Adam could see that his brother didn\u2019t understand his unspoken plea because he was already preparing to mount his horse.<\/p>\n Little Joe may not have understood why his brother sounded nervous but he hadn\u2019t missed that he did. \u201cAdam is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo of course not Little Joe. Like you said the hardest work is already done so go on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm he didn\u2019t ask you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not brother but I think I like her answer better than I\u2019ll like yours.\u201d With that Little Joe and Ivy rode off leaving Adam feeling very insecure.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, now what Storm.\u201d Adam should have known better than to ask. What was on her mind was very easy to read in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI think\u2026..no I know\u2026\u2026Adam I have heard of men ravishing women, is it possible for a woman to ravish a man?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell I can\u2019t help it! All this talk and planning for our wedding day only makes me think about our wedding night all the more, and you, you\u2019re no help standing there like that. Tell me just how you would feel if I were standing in front of you bare-chested.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM!!\u201d He had to concede she was right. Just the thought of her standing before him as he was before her made him lose some of his resolve to wait. \u201cAlright Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n She saw him reach for his shirt but she grabbed it first. \u201cStorm give it here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n There it was again, that sound in her voice that set his whole body on edge. \u201cStorm don\u2019t talk to me, don\u2019t even look at me, just\u2026..\u201d He should have remembered the lesson he had learned when he had closed his eyes on her in a situation such as this before, the difference was that time he had at least been wearing a shirt. \u201cSTORM!\u201d He felt a warmth go through him the instant her hands touched him. \u201cOh God Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled her into his embrace and began to kiss her entire face knowing it would take more then any will power he possessed to stop this time.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, oh Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat does it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa! Thank God.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben could tell his son meant it.<\/p>\n \u201cBen go away.\u201d<\/p>\n He could also tell Storm meant it.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm Margaret Kendall!\u201d<\/p>\n She knew she was in trouble, very rarely did Ben ever use her full given name.<\/p>\n \u201cOh DAMN IT.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM.\u201d When Adam looked at her face he couldn\u2019t help but laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny!?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou. You had that same pouty expression when I told you you couldn\u2019t help with the branding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because I wanted to do that really badly too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa how did you know I would be needing your help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? I met Little Joe and Ivy riding without Storm and figured she would be with you. Then when Little Joe said that you had sounded kind of nervous when he had left you I thought it would be a good idea to come and see just what was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing, not any more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart it\u2019s only for two more weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes two weeks that you will be staying in town young lady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh pa, isn\u2019t that a little extreme?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJudging from the scene I just rode up on? NO.\u201d<\/p>\n They both watched with smiles as Storm stomped over to her horse and rode away.<\/p>\n \u201cI think right now she just might hate me a little.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo pa. I don\u2019t think she could ever hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSon do you think you can keep up with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly pa, I don\u2019t know but I do think it will be worth every effort it might take to try.\u201d<\/p>\n As always Ben was true to his word and saw that Storm, along with Lady Olivia, Lord Duncan and Ivy, moved into town. He had met with less resistance than he had thought.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what are you doing? This is the fifth night in a row I have found you standing like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIvy, before we left the Ponderosa I made Adam promise me something. I made him promise me that at ten o\u2019clock every night for five minutes he would look up at the North Star and I would do the same. That way, for a little while at least, I would know what he was doing and he would know what I was doing. For those five minutes we would be together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you really think he is keeping that promise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course he is Ivy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI find it hard to believe that any man is that wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Olivia had known where to find Storm because, as Ivy had said, she had been in the same place for the past five nights.<\/p>\n \u201cLady Olivia, every man is that wonderful, at least in the eyes of the woman who loves him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose your are right about that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 10<\/strong><\/p>\n The day finally arrived and to everyone\u2019s surprise Storm was calm and quiet. It was all those around her who had seemed to lose their senses. Surprisingly, much the same was happening at the Ponderosa. Adam was peacefully going about getting ready while his father and brothers seemed to have lost their minds. It was probably due to the fact that both Storm and Adam\u2019s minds were on what would happen that night and had no room to be worried about what was about to happen.<\/p>\n The ceremony went along as most do. From the moment Storm joined Adam at the altar the smiles that had come to their faces when they had first seen each other left neither one of their faces, at least not until the preacher asked if anyone saw just cause why they shouldn\u2019t be joined in holy matrimony.<\/p>\n \u201cI know of a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n All heads turned to the gentleman who few had even seen enter, those that had noticed that he had kept himself to the shadows. While everyone strained to see who would dare to come between them, neither Storm nor Adam needed to see him to know who he was.<\/p>\n \u201cPapa?! You can\u2019t object, you gave up that right a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t marry him. I know you won\u2019t want to when I tell you the only reason he is marrying you is out of guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuilt? Over what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know this, I had hoped to spare you, but he is responsible for you mother\u2019s death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see papa, when it suits your purpose he\u2019s to blame otherwise the fault is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was men he hired who did it!\u201d They had been some of the first men Adam had hired on his own.<\/p>\n \u201cI already knew that papa. He told me a long time ago. Adam has never lied to me and he has never kept a truth from me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou forgave him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cForgave him? Papa there was nothing to forgive. The only ones to blame for what happened to mama are the men who did it. Not me, not Adam, not even yourself. Sometimes things happen just because they are meant to happen. Mama would be the first one to tell you that. Now you can stay here or you can leave because I am done. Papa I am done trying to please you. I\u2019m tired papa, I\u2019m tired of doing everything you say in hopes of gaining an ounce of acceptance because it never comes. I am going to marry Adam because I love him and I know that he loves me. So stay or go papa. I want you to know that if you stay we will be very happy to have you as a part of our lives but if you go remember that the door will always be open for you to come back. I love you papa, I always have and I always will.\u201dStorm once again faced the preacher. \u201cNow may we please continue.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone followed Storm\u2019s lead and turned to face the front of the church. They all jumped when the door slammed shut. Adam looked at Storm expecting the sadness he saw but not the relief. He realized that for the first time in twelve years she believed that she had done everything within her power; it was now up to her father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood evening Mrs. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you\u2019re being silly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAm I? I hadn\u2019t realized I\u2019d done anything that was silly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell you have, you never call me Mrs. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, that\u2019s not what you said, you were supposed to ask me to dance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to.\u201d He pulled her into his arms and led her around to the music.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, am I dreaming or are we truly married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are truly married.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes that mean I finally get to ravish you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I don\u2019t think you know what that means.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure you will show me.\u201d<\/p>\n The party had been going on for hours and Ben was enjoying himself. Storm had just come in search of Adam but had been distracted by Little Joe\u2019s request of a dance. Ben decided to see if he could find his son for her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing over here? Don\u2019t you know you have one very beautiful bride looking for you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa what if\u2026..\u201d Ben could hear the worry in his son\u2019s voice. \u201cWhat if I lose her. Then what? There isn\u2019t a person in this world who could see me through that pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, she is not Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that pa. God how I know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere you are.\u201d Storm had begun to worry. She had also begun to feel rather anxious. \u201cYou know Adam it is too late to be having second thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you would have to wait and find out just what those second thoughts were about.\u201d<\/p>\n She reached up and tenderly caressed his cheek. \u201cYou mean you\u2019ve only thought of it twice? Adam can we go home now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee pa, not Emily at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben helped them to leave fairly unnoticed. The few that did notice were more than willing to keep their secret.<\/p>\n When they reached their house Storm asked a question she had asked before. \u201cSo will you tell me now if our house is furnished?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Storm, every room is completely furnished.\u201d She did something so totally out of character, so unexpected, it almost made Adam think he had taken the wrong woman with him. She lowered her eyes. \u201cMy God Storm, are you blushing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO. It\u2019s just very warm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes and getting warmer by the minute.\u201d He got out of the carriage and found that for one of the first times he could ever remember she actually waited for him to help her. He carried her in his arms into the house. \u201cAren\u2019t you going to tell me that you can walk?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, because I\u2019m not too sure if I can.\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t let her feet touch the floor again until they were in their bedroom and if you asked Storm she would tell you they didn\u2019t touch even then. At first he tried to arouse her desire by kissing her and slowly undressing her. As a part of her body that he had never seen before was revealed he would kiss it.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, oh Adam please.\u201d<\/p>\n He knew that each breathless word that she had uttered had only been through great effort on her part. Once she stood before him completely naked he again lifted her off her feet and tenderly placed her on their bed. After he was as she was he joined her there. When their naked flesh touched for the first time each felt a fire hotter than any branding iron.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam please.\u201d<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t need to put into words exactly what she was asking of him, he knew. It was a plea he could refuse no longer, one he was happy he didn\u2019t have to try to any more.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I love you.\u201d It was what she said next that compelled him to put an end to their unfulfilled desire. \u201cAdam I need you.\u201d<\/p>\n He felt her whole body tense at the pain and the new sensation the joining of their bodies brought to her. He waited until he could once again feel her relaxing and then began to move within her.<\/p>\n As he lay there next to her watching her sleep he was happy to see a smile on her face. He found sleep for him a little difficult to find. He was as exhausted as she but his mind kept thinking about what he had done. He swore to himself that it had been done unconsciously. It was something a deep down fear had caused him to instinctively do. Storm was, for one of the first times in a long time, so very happy. She had Adam, she had AJ, and yet somewhere inside she felt something wasn\u2019t quite right. There was a tiny hole inside that seemed to be always empty and even though after making love she felt completely satisfied that emptiness would always feel greatest then.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The New Year came and with it a great battle of wills.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam will you be home for lunch or should I fix something for you to bring?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to say I\u2019ll be home but where we have to ride to is about three hours away, so I guess you had better pack something for me.\u201d<\/p>\n She went into the kitchen and a few minutes later appeared with a saddlebag.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think I\u2019m going to be out all night?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow Adam do you really think I would send you out without something for Little Joe and Hoss as well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou spoil them. They\u2019re never going to find wives of their own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying the only reason you married me is for my ability to pack lunches?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do possess other very pleasing abilities.\u201d Once he started kissing her he was sorry. Not because he found it unpleasant and wished to stop but because he knew now it would be very difficult to stop. He had promised his brothers he would meet them at eight o\u2019clock and it was already seven thirty.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you had best get going.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I had otherwise it will be you and I sharing this lunch instead of me, Hoss and Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what of AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes can take him with her when she comes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cADAM.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will probably be home around five or six.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will be waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell don\u2019t you look happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am Mrs. Keyes, I really am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I saw Marybeth in town the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow is she? How is Cory? They have been married; what four months now.\u201d When she had first returned Storm was happy to find that her old friend was still living in Virginia City. Once her concerns for Adam had been put to rest she was once again able to rekindle that old friendship and found it easier than she had thought it would be.<\/p>\n \u201cYes it has been four months. Do you want to know what she told me? She said she\u2019s going to have a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? That\u2019s wonderful news.\u201d<\/p>\n As the day wore on Storm began to wonder what was wrong with her. Jealously was not an emotion Storm was use to feeling and not one she liked to feel but the more she thought on what Mrs. Keyes had told her the more it kept eating away at her. Marybeth was going to have a baby after being married for only four months and she and Adam had been married for six months now. Was it possible that Adam\u2019s fears were without merit? Was it possible that he needn\u2019t worry about her dying in childbirth because she would never have children? If that were true than the fault was her, not Adam\u2019s, AJ was proof of that. Then she remembered something Adam had said. Something that had stayed with her even if she didn\u2019t understand why. He had once said something about if he had known what would happen beforehand. He had never finished that remark but Storm understood what he had meant. He couldn\u2019t mean he would have never made love to Emily but was there another way to prevent a child?<\/p>\n Storm could think of only one person to ask. \u201cMrs. Keyes where\u2019s AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying in his room. I swear I have never seen a child with so many toys.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time Rebecca looked at Storm and what she saw scared her.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you answer me honestly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHaven\u2019t I always?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam was with Marinda more than once and I\u2019m sure he has been with other woman as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm that is in the past. You can\u2019t be thinking that he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I don\u2019t question his fidelity. What I can\u2019t understand is how, in all those times, he never had a child with her or any other woman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm a man has ways to keep from giving a woman his child.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you have been married for six months now and I am not foolish enough to believe that in that time you and Adam have not\u2026.well not made love. You must know by now what happens when a man is\u2026well when he has reached that certain point.\u201d Rebecca knew she was avoiding the words when that was what Storm needed to know, for some reason, she needed to know. \u201cStorm if a man doesn\u2019t wish for a woman to have his child he simply doesn\u2019t remain inside her when he feels he is about to\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Mrs. Keyes, I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca could see the tears forming in her eyes, could hear the heartbreak in her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, child what is wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing. Mrs. Keyes will you do me a favor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you take AJ to Ben? Will you please ask him, if he doesn\u2019t mind, will he keep AJ with him tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes but may I ask why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I have to find out the truth and I don\u2019t want AJ to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n Around four o\u2019clock, against her better judgment, Rebecca took AJ and left Storm alone. An hour and a half later Adam came home to find her in the same spot Rebecca had left her.<\/p>\n \u201cWell good evening Mrs. Cartwright.\u201d He went to her as he always did when he got home and bent to kiss her. He was surprised when she raised her hands and placed them on his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo?\u201d If it weren\u2019t for the fact that he could see she had been crying or the hurt tone in her voice he would have thought she were playing some new game.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I want you to tell me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust tell me did you ever love me or did you just want a whore you knew you could trust your son to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d He didn\u2019t know what was upsetting him more, that she would question his love or that she could think of herself as a whore. \u201cYou treat me as you have any other whore and you knew that I loved you so much that I would be willing to whore myself for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM I want you to STOP saying that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSaying what Adam? Whore? Why should I stop? WHY! It\u2019s true! You keep from me the one thing that would make me your wife so when you married me you made sure I would nothing more than a socially acceptable whore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo help me Storm if you say that word one more time I will\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll what ADAM!? Hit me? You\u2019ve already done it once and as far as whores are concerned I hear it\u2019s quite an acceptable thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo are you saying you wouldn\u2019t cut my hand off, because it is considered by some to be acceptable for wives as well!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam if I were your wife I would most definitely carry through with my threat because a man should never treat his wife like that, but I\u2019m not your wife Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n Couldn\u2019t she see how much her words were hurting him? \u201cStorm will you please tell me what this is all about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Adam. You\u2019ve withheld from me, from the very day we were married, the one thing a man gives to his wife alone. You have kept from me what would give me a chance to have your children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you think it\u2019s because I don\u2019t love you! You think it\u2019s because I think of you as some kind of a\u2026..\u201d He couldn\u2019t even bring himself to say it. \u201cStorm I love you more than anything and I don\u2019t think God would ever forgive me for killing an angel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not an angel Adam no more than you are a saint! Why can\u2019t you see! If Ben had followed your reasoning neither Hoss nor Little Joe would have been born!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm this is a little different.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy!? Because of your mother Adam? Then I suppose AJ should feel so guilty\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM!\u201d One thing he found difficult was to argue with her when she was making perfect sense.<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam, don\u2019t you understand, I\u2019d rather die loving you then to live hating you.\u201d She could tell the argument was almost over now.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying that if we don\u2019t have children you would hate me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo only if you don\u2019t allow us the chance to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe that is called blackmail.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Adam, just have a little faith. Faith in me, faith in us, faith in God. Adam you have to know that life is a very fragile thing. I could go riding tomorrow and be thrown and break my neck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you\u2019ll never go riding again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you really deny me that knowing how much I love it? Of course you would because you deny me yourself when you know how much I love you. Oh Adam don\u2019t you think that every time you leave this house I\u2019m afraid. Why is it you think I cling to you as I do every morning? Why is it I always seem to need just one more kiss? Why do I seem to need to lie so close to you every night? The dangers you face are so much greater than mine. You could be thrown just as easily but you stand a greater chance of being trampled or shot. Would you like to know what makes the time you\u2019re away from me bearable? AJ, I have AJ, and whenever I start to think things like that I look at him and I see you and I know that in him I\u2019ll always have you. Same as in him you will always have Emily. Isn\u2019t that what made losing her sufferable? What of me Adam? What if I should\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say it Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if I should die tomorrow? What would you hold on to? How would you remember me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs if I could ever forget you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you have said it so many times, I am not Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo you most definitely are not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen stop treating me as if I am.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled her to him, but knowing she was right didn\u2019t erase the fear.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Adam. Please trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard that hunger in her voice again and surrendered to it. He picked her up and began to make his way upstairs. Halfway up he realized something was missing. \u201cStorm where is AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith Ben. I asked Mrs. Keyes to bring him there for tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time in six months of marriage that empty hole in Storm was filled and for the first time in those six months Adam attained a state of complete bliss. \u00a0 Even if Adam were to have second thoughts there wasn\u2019t enough time for him to. It seemed as if Storm needed only one chance to start proving to him she was different from Emily in this as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Storm?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid she\u2019s not feeling too well. I\u2019m sorry to have to rush off but I\u2019m already late.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure in this instance your brothers would forgive you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure they would but I\u2019m afraid to tell them. If I did tell them they would want to rush over here and see her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould that really bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo but if they did then Storm would get no rest and I think that\u2019s what she needs most right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you have to tell them anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I packed my lunch today and they will know by that that something must be wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why don\u2019t you rush off and just tell them she was sleeping when you left.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Storm hasn\u2019t slept this late since\u2026.I can\u2019t think of a time she ever slept this late.\u201d Adam bent and picked up his son. \u201cAJ you be a good boy and mind Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes papa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd don\u2019t go bothering mama too much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo papa. Papa I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you too AJ.\u201d Adam kissed his son and left to join his brothers. Adam had been gone maybe five minutes when Storm came downstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning to you. I thought you would be sleeping most of the day. The way Adam was talking I thought you were pretty sick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was, but now I\u2019m hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMornin\u2019 mama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa said I ain\u2019t suppose to bother you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot suppose to, and you never bother me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ why don\u2019t you go on upstairs and I will be up in a few minutes to read you a story.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n They both watched as he slowly made his way up the steps to his room.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is getting so big.\u201d Storm said this with a longing Mrs. Keyes understood only too well.<\/p>\n \u201cYes he is. It would sure be nice to have a newborn baby to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA new baby? Mrs. Keyes are you trying to tell me something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot me silly, you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cME? Why would you think\u2026\u2026I mean just because\u2026.do you really think so?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying it isn\u2019t a possibility?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose it is now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs everything alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just that Adam is going to be so\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca couldn\u2019t understand why Storm hesitated. \u201cHappy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so Mrs. Keyes. I hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course he will be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour right of course but maybe I should go see the doctor to make sure before I go and\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet his hopes up? I\u2019ll tell you what we\u2019ll do. I\u2019ll ask Doc Martin to come out tomorrow. This way no one will see you go into town and start spreading rumors about what the possible cause could be for you to go and see the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. I would like to keep this a secret, at least until I tell Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Hoss and Little Joe saw the lunch Adam had they did indeed know something was wrong. They had originally thought that perhaps it was due to an argument he and Storm had had and this was one way for Storm to punish him but they both felt that she would never punish them as well and that would be exactly what she would have done in not packing Adam\u2018s lunch. Adam told them the true reason not because he was giving in to their constant hounding but because he was beginning to worry about his wife.<\/p>\n When they went inside both Hoss and Little Joe believed that their brother had lied to them. \u201cI thought you said you were late this morning because Storm was sick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell she was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was Little Joe, but I\u2019m feeling much better now.\u201d She gave them all a kiss hello. \u201cNow how about something to eat. I\u2019m sure, Adam, that the lunch you packed for yourself wasn\u2019t anywhere near enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds real good Storm.\u201d Hoss just loved Storm\u2019s cooking almost as much as he loved Hop-Sing\u2019s or maybe just as much. Storm smiled and made her way to the kitchen.<\/p>\n Adam followed her there. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re feeling alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine Adam. Now why don\u2019t you go on up and tell Mrs. Keyes it\u2019s time for lunch and to bring AJ down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam knew Storm well enough to know there was something on her mind. She seemed to be happy and yet worried. He also knew her well enough to know that in time she would tell him what it was. \u00a0 That night, for one of the very few times in her life, she couldn\u2019t fall asleep. Now that the possibility that she was to have a baby was a real one she began to be a little frightened. What if Adam wasn\u2019t happy, what if he were angry? What if she turned out to be more like Emily than she thought? She prayed that everything would be alright. She didn\u2019t want to think that she would die like Emily, like Adam\u2019s mother. She began to wish she had never made Adam give her this child because she would rather live her whole life alone then to hurt him like that.<\/p>\n \u201cHey sweetheart.\u201d Storm had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn\u2019t heard him get out of bed. He walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He pulled her close till he could feel her back against his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re cold, why don\u2019t you come on back to bed and get under the covers with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I will.\u201d She felt him begin to remove his arms from her waist but she wouldn\u2019t let him.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n He could hear the worry, the doubt and the tears in her voice. It always surprised him how she could reveal so much with one word.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to wait until I was sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure about what? Honey you\u2019re scaring me. Does this have anything to do with your being sick today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose it does. Mrs. Keyes has asked Dr. Martin to come out tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaul? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam will you please promise me you won\u2019t be angry, that you won\u2019t hate me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that maybe I\u2026that we\u2026..Adam I think we\u2019re going to have a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA baby?\u201d For Adam, now that it was a possibility, instead of the fear he had expected to feel he found himself feeling joy. \u201cYou\u2019re scaring me like this because you think we might be having a baby?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just thought you would be upset.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo did I.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Storm I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you will be happy if it\u2019s true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHappy? Storm, it would be more like completely, wholly, totally, utterly overjoyed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next morning Mrs. Keyes arrived the same time she always did. Storm noticed that she kept watching the clock and if she weren\u2019t so busy being happy she might have remembered why. The first time Mrs. Keyes had a chance to speak with her alone she was reminded.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, the doctor will be here in a little while. When is Adam going to be leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I had forgotten or I would have told you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou told him. I should have remembered that you can\u2019t keep anything from him.”<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Ben.\u201d Ben was riding over to see how Storm was feeling today. He was a little anxious because Adam hadn\u2019t shown up this morning and it had taken great effort to convince Hoss and Little Joe to go on without their brother. Now that he had met with Paul his anxiety heightened.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul is there something wrong? Is it something I should know about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure? Adam mentioned yesterday that Storm wasn\u2019t feeling too well and now I meet you on the way to his house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry Ben. Now that were here why don\u2019t we go on in.\u201d Dr. Martin was a little surprised to find Adam still at home.<\/p>\n Rebecca could hear the uncertainty in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Adam. I was just out riding and\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Paul. We should have known there was no way she would be able to keep it from him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep what from who? Paul, Rebecca? Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry pa, we\u2019ll know soon enough. Paul, Storm is waiting for you upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n As Ben watched Paul go upstairs he knew what he hoped was going on but was afraid of what that might do to his son.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm thinks that we may be having a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Is she sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why Paul is here, to make sure.\u201d<\/p>\n AJ couldn\u2019t understand why everyone was just sitting around except for his father who seemed to be unable to sit still. He kept trying to get his father\u2019s attention but when that didn\u2019t work he tried to get his grandfather\u2019s, finding that too failing he again turned back to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cPapa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne minute AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ I said ONE MINUTE.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you speak to him like that and don\u2019t tell him one minute. Come here AJ.\u201d Storm could see the tears beginning in their son\u2019s eyes. She knew that Adam was only worried and hadn\u2019t meant to answer AJ so sternly but AJ didn\u2019t know that. \u201cAdam if that is how you\u2019re going to treat this baby as well I will just have to go and find another husband.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you are\u2026I mean we are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes we are.\u201d<\/p>\n When Adam took her in his arms she knew he was happy but she could also sense his apprehension.<\/p>\n When Storm was almost five months along Paul gave her some news. News she wasn\u2019t quite sure how to handle but news that would prove that if it were for Adam\u2019s own good she could keep a secret from him. \u201cYou\u2019re sure Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m sure. I would have thought you would be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am Paul. It\u2019s just that, well I know Adam says he\u2019s no more worried about me than any other husband is when his wife is in this condition, but I think he is and this will only make him worry even more. Paul, will you please promise me that you won\u2019t tell him. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll promise you if you\u2019ll promise me that you will take it extra easy. No riding, no lifting, not even AJ. I want you to rest as much as possible. Is it a deal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm if I find out that you aren\u2019t keeping your word I will tell the one person I know who will more than likely keep you in bed for the remaining four months.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm needn\u2019t be told who. She knew he meant Adam. Paul kept his word, he never told Adam, but he did tell Ben. That couldn\u2019t be taken as him breaking his promise.<\/p>\n \u201cBen are you here alone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Paul what brings you all the way out from town? It\u2019s not Storm is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell no and yes Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Nothing is wrong. Actually I\u2019ve just come from seeing her and she is doing fine. I\u2019m here Ben because I need your help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelp with what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst you must give me your word that you won\u2019t repeat what I am about to tell you to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst your word.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Paul, you have my word.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one Ben, especially your sons, or I can\u2019t tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Paul, now what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need you to make sure that Storm takes it extra easy. I\u2019ve told her that I don\u2019t want her lifting anything and no riding. I want her to get as much rest as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaul is there something wrong with Storm? Is there something wrong with the baby?\u201d God forgive him but Ben didn\u2019t know which would upset him more.<\/p>\n \u201cBabies, Ben. Storm is going to have twins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTWINS? Why wouldn\u2019t she want to tell Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s afraid it will make him worry even more. If he worries more about her then she\u2019ll worry more about him and that wouldn\u2019t be good for her. So it is best for us to keep her wish and not tell him because I think she may be right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Paul. It won\u2019t be easy but alright and I will keep an eye on her but I\u2019m sure she will do as you have told her. She does want this baby\u2026I mean babies very badly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she does, if only to prove to Adam that Emily was not his fault.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 11 <\/strong><\/p>\n It was a week before Christmas and Storm wasn\u2019t due to have the babies for four more weeks so when she suggested that Adam leave her alone and go with AJ to the Christmas party no one was exceptionally worried.<\/p>\n Even so as he was getting ready Adam began to think this might not be such a good idea.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you\u2019re sure Storm? I could bring AJ and come right back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be silly. I\u2019ll probably just spend the time resting and enjoying being alone. It will be nice to be able to walk around without having someone constantly looking over my shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust remember, no lifting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLifting? Adam I can\u2019t even bend over let alone lift something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure? It\u2019s just that you look especially uncomfortable today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell you try carrying this much extra weight around and we\u2019ll see just how uncomfortable you are, as a matter of fact tomorrow we will strap a full sack of grain to you and see just how comfortable you feel.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam gave her a kiss and a smile. He could see she was trying to sound annoyed but she wasn\u2019t doing a very good job of it. \u201cNow you just stay here in bed. I\u2019ve brought you up some water and some fruit. I\u2019ve also brought some cookies and sandwiches.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI tell you how fat I am and you offer me food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not offering it to you, I\u2019m offering it to my baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell the only way for your baby to have anything is if I eat it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. AJ you go and get ready so we can get going to grandpas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam make sure to dress him warmly. It\u2019s very cold out tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes my love.\u201d Here we go, Adam thought. Here comes the list.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam remember to kiss everyone for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes dear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam make sure everyone knows that I\u2019m okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes darling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam make sure that AJ behaves himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes my beloved.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam if it gets too late just stay there tonight and come home in the morning.”<\/p>\n \u201cIf it gets too late I\u2019ll leave AJ there but I\u2019ll not leave you alone tonight, or any night that I can help it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love you my dearest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa, I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ come here and give me a kiss. Now you be a good boy remember Santa is watching.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes mama.\u201d<\/p>\n They had been gone for almost three hours when Storm began to fear that maybe she should have told Adam to come back.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening Adam. How is Storm doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to talk to you about her but I was beginning to think you weren\u2019t going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a little trouble in town that required my attention but everything is alright now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaul would you mind very much riding over with me to see her? When I left she looked really uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe is eight months along. I expect it would be more worrisome if she weren\u2019t uncomfortable.\u201d Especially given that she is having twins. Paul so longed to say this but could tell that Storm was right, it would cause Adam too worry much more than he already was.<\/p>\n \u201cI know and I\u2019m probably just worrying for nothing but I can\u2019t help but feel that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go get my coat and meet you outside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Paul.\u201d Adam had been standing outside for five minutes before Paul joined him. \u201cI was about to go back inside and look for you. I thought maybe you had forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t forget Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa? What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe same thing you are. I guess we both had the same concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell can we go then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn a minute Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy what are we waiting for now?”<\/p>\n \u201cJust one more minute.\u201d The door opened again and Adam found himself to be a little surprised to see his youngest brother coming out. \u201cLittle Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam? Pa? What are you two doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe same thing you are. So can we go now Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think Adam? Each time I headed for the door I was stopped by someone else asking me the same thing you did.\u201d Paul had just finished when the door opened again.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa? Little Joe? Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShouldn\u2019t one of us stay here? You know the first thing Storm is going to want to know is who is here watching AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right big brother, you stay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cME? Joe she\u2019s my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam why don\u2019t you and Paul go. We\u2019ll stay here and figure out who will stay and who will join you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay pa but there\u2019s probably no reason for anyone to join me. Paul?\u201d Adam and Paul left and Ben turned to his two other sons.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe I want you to go on in and ask Mrs. Keyes if she wouldn\u2019t mind going with you and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah but pa I\u2026.me and Hoss? You mean your gonna\u2019 stay here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor now but if our suspicions are proven to be correct then I want one of you to come back and let me know. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing pa.\u201d Hoss had already gone inside to ask Mrs. Keyes if she would come with them. Not wanting to wait for his brother and father to finish talking.<\/p>\n \u201cPa why do you want Mrs. Keyes to come with us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause if Storm is having the baby Paul will need Rebecca\u2019s help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think Dr. Martin has delivered a baby or two on his own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps but not at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing Joseph. Please just do as I ask.\u201d<\/p>\n Thankfully Hoss and Rebecca came out at that moment because Ben wasn\u2019t too sure he could have kept the truth from Joe for very much longer. It wasn\u2019t because he wanted to tell someone but because he needed to tell his sons. It had been very hard for him to keep the secret that had been entrusted to him only because it was one that made him so very happy and he wanted his sons to feel the same joy he was.<\/p>\n Paul and Adam arrived at the house and at first glance Adam could tell something was wrong. The house was too dark. Storm would have left a lantern burning for him in their bedroom window even if she had gone to sleep. As he placed his hand on the front door latch he found himself taking a deep breath and trying to steel himself to what might be ahead of him tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm! Are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cADAM! Oh Adam come quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n He ran upstairs faster than Paul had ever seen any man move. When he had finally managed to reach the top he found Adam gently helping Storm into bed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam. I was so hot I just wanted to open the window a little. The pain didn\u2019t hurt quite as much when I was lying down on my side so I just laid on the floor. I didn\u2019t fall Adam I swear I didn\u2019t I was just going to\u2026..\u201d She reached for Adam\u2019s arm and squeezed. \u201cIt hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n They hadn\u2019t heard the door open but there was no way to mistake Hoss\u2019 voice.<\/p>\n \u201cADAM! STORM!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re up here Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul saw Little Joe had reached the bedroom door first. \u201cJoe I need you to ride back and ask Rebecca to come and help me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m already here Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood, now Joe go on downstairs Hoss before you go take your brother\u201d<\/p>\n Storm looked at her husband and saw all the worry and fear he had been holding at bay for her sake hit him all at once. She smiled at him as strongly as she could.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I\u2019ll be fine. Go on down with Hoss and Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n He took her into his arms. She heard him softly whisper to her. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare leave me.\u201d<\/p>\n She whispered back. \u201cI won\u2019t Adam, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and his brothers went downstairs to wait. Each one remembering the last time they had waited like this. That time they had only expected to hear joyous news, this time they were all expecting the worst.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss I had best go get pa. He said one of us should go if what we suspected was right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure you don\u2019t want to stay and I\u2019ll go get him?\u201d<\/p>\n They both looked at their older brother pacing back and forth on the other side of the room.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Hoss I think if he tries to go upstairs you stand a better chance of stopping him than me.\u201d<\/p>\n They both knew that normally that would be true but given the circumstances Hoss wasn\u2019t too sure if even he would be able to stop Adam if he really wanted to go. While this was one reason why Little Joe believed Hoss should stay there was another more urgent one. Little Joe was afraid to stay. He figured if he went for their father then he would more than likely be put in charge of AJ and any remaining guests. If there was to be any bad news to be heard at least he wouldn\u2019t have to see Adam torn apart like that again because by the time he would see him Adam would have his emotions under control. Little Joe knew that it sounded selfish but seeing his brother like that had hurt as much as losing Emily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPA!\u201d Ben, as well as everyone else, turned to see Little Joe standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n \u201cPa it\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright Joseph, you stay here and keep on eye on AJ. I\u2019ll go and\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen excuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Andrew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you both go? Judith and I can keep an eye on AJ as well as things here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. Joseph would you like to return with me?\u201d Ben knew that Little Joe had suffered greatly at seeing his brother\u2019s pain.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think I would pa but I do. I want to be there, for Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew we will send word as soon as we can. Everyone please stay and enjoy yourselves. It would seem as if I have grandchildren on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n A few people had noticed that Ben had said grandchildren<\/em>\u00a0but attributed it to the fact that his mind was elsewhere.<\/p>\n Little Joe and Ben arrived at Adam\u2019s house but before they went back in there was a question on Little Joe\u2019s mind that he felt best to ask out here. \u201cPa, before you said something about Paul not delivering two babies at once, then before we left the party you said grandchildren<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid I? I must have made a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing Joseph. I\u2019m just very excited so excuse me if I\u2019m not thinking too clearly. Now why don\u2019t we go inside and see how everyone is.\u201d Ben walked in and over to his eldest son. Little Joe was still sure something fishy was going on but what it was never occurred to him. \u201cHow are you doing Adam?\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t know pa. I just don\u2019t know. One minute I think that everything is alright, that it has to be alright because that\u2019s Storm up there and she wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. Then I think that if Emily had the choice she wouldn\u2019t have left either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo she wouldn\u2019t have. Unlike Emily, though, Storm is a bit more hard headed and prone to doing things against the most powerful of authority figures. Wouldn\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying that Storm is capable of fighting fate?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf in not doing so she would cause you pain son, yes.\u201d The time between their arrival and the time they heard a baby\u2019s cry was spent mostly watching Adam pace in front of the fireplace. Every now and then they would hear Storm cry out in pain but those times weren\u2019t too often and Ben believed that was because Storm knew how hard it would be on Adam. On the few occasions that her cries were louder than the others Hoss did indeed have to stop Adam from going upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cPa what\u2019s taking so long? I mean even with\u2026\u201d What Adam was about to say was that even with Emily by now they had already known she was dying.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam maybe I should tell you\u2026\u201d Ben was interrupted by an infant\u2019s cry. He looked at the clock and noticed it was near to midnight. After a few minutes more, and the clock striking midnight, they heard an infant cry again. Ben, of course, knew the significance of this but no one else did. They just all assumed they were the cries of the same baby.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul why don\u2019t you go on down and let Adam know I\u2019m alright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust let me finish checking on everyone in here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is there something wrong? My babies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Storm you and your babies are fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen please go tell Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Rebecca can you handle the rest in here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe so.\u201d<\/p>\n The first thing Rebecca did when she and Storm were alone was to show her the babies.<\/p>\n Paul left the room so much happier with the news he had to give Adam this time. He was also very curious as to what everyone\u2019s reactions would be and his curiosity had nothing to do with the fact that Ben was the only one to know it was twins.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul, how is Storm? How is the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine Adam, just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFunny you don\u2019t look as if everything is fine. Storm is okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter than a lot of woman who have done what she has.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I\u2019ve already told you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Paul. It\u2019s just the way you look I would think that the baby had two heads or something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not far from the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWHAT?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, it\u2019s twins.\u201d<\/p>\n Once what Paul had said was fully comprehended they all watched as Adam climbed the stairs faster than anyone thought possible.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul I\u2019ve had a little longer to get use to this idea then my sons so I am able to think to ask if they are boys or girls. You see in his excitement Adam has forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad he did. I\u2019m not too sure just how much more of a shock he could have stood without having Storm beside him.\u201d Paul saw all six Cartwright eyes turn toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell if you four will excuse me.\u201d Rebecca closed the door as she left. It was again the sound of the door shutting behind him that roused Adam from his trance.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd have you worry twice as much as you already were?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I did pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did. That\u2019s why I didn\u2019t want to give you any reason to worry. Adam who has AJ? I mean if Mrs. Keyes is here and Paul said that Ben, Hoss and Little Joe are all downstairs then who has AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n He knew this question would be one of the first Storm asked, he was only surprised that he hadn\u2019t. He supposed it was because he trusted his father wouldn\u2019t leave AJ with anyone who couldn\u2019t be trusted. It wasn\u2019t that Storm didn\u2019t trust his father as well just that she\u2026.well she was a mother. \u201cI\u2019m not too sure. I suppose Andrew and Judith are watching him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t tell me that they were coming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey weren\u2019t too sure if they would make it. They were going to come over and surprise you tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it will be them who get to be surprised. It will be nice to see them. Adam do you think that they would mind if the twins call them grandma and grandpa? I would like them to feel as if our children are their grandchildren as well. Unless of course you think that\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, somehow I don\u2019t think they will mind but I will ask them. Now speaking of our children may I see them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n As Adam leaned down Storm pulled aside the blanket from the face of the first born twin. \u201cThis young man arrived first. Adam if it\u2019s alright can we call him Benjamin Matthew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that is a wonderful name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm then proceeded to pull the blanket away from the face of the second born twin.<\/p>\n \u201cNext arrived this most beautiful young lady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLady? Storm did you say lady? But Storm the blanket is blue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would seem that everyone assumed as you do, that you would only have sons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen some knew you were having twins?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Adam you\u2019re not angry that I didn\u2019t tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAngry? Sweetheart right now I am so filled with joy there isn\u2019t any room for anger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen as I was saying you have met your son now let me introduce you to your daughter. Would you mind if we named her Elizabeth Hope?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all. Benjamin and Elizabeth. I think they sound wonderful together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn that I would have to agree with you son. Now may I see my two new grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew pa. That explains all the questions on if Storm was taking it easy, if she was eating and getting enough rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaul told me, yes, but only because he wanted to make sure\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it really matter? I mean it\u2019s over, I\u2019m fine and the twins are fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guest it doesn\u2019t matter. Storm I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would seem twice as much as I thought.”<\/p>\n \u201cOnly twice as much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf this is how you intend on showing it, it had better never be more than twice as much.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 12<\/strong><\/p>\n Adam and Storm settled into a very happy and comfortable life. For eleven months they enjoyed their three children. They enjoyed watching the twins grow and learn all manners of new things. AJ loved trying to teach his younger siblings everything he could. Storm would say he was very much like his father in that way. It was a day in late November that Adam came home and was very surprised by the greeting he received.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Mrs. Keyes. Come here you three.\u201d He collected his three children into his arms and gave them hugs and kisses.<\/p>\n \u201cAJ where is your mama?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUpstairs. Papa, mama\u2019s sick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes? Is Storm alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go on up and find out for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was sure if it were anything serious Mrs. Keyes wouldn\u2019t be so complacent so he went up not really too concerned.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d He saw her sitting on their bed looking rather pale.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate you Adam Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWHAT?\u201d He looked at the face she had raised up to look at him and couldn\u2019t help but laugh. \u201cAre you pouting again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam.\u201d She ran to him with tears in her eyes. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean it. I don\u2019t hate you. I could never hate you. I love you so very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I know that sweetheart. Now why don\u2019t you tell me what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going to have another baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It\u2019s the only time I have ever found that I spend all morning being sick and the rest of the day and night eating.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled her once again into his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam are you really happy?\u201d<\/p>\n He took her chin into his hand and looked into her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cAm I happy? Storm there isn\u2019t a man alive who has known this much happiness. How about you? Do you think you\u2019ll be alright with another baby to take care of?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine. I do have Mrs. Keyes to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm will you promise me something? Will you please promise that if it\u2019s twins you\u2019ll tell me this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh ADAM. Don\u2019t say such things. It\u2019s not that I wouldn\u2019t be happy if it is twins but I would so very much like to give birth to only one baby this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about next time?\u201d<\/p>\n She was happy to know that he seemed to be looking forward to a next time. That he wasn\u2019t so certain that this time would end in tragedy.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s worry about this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo then you\u2019re willing for there to be a next time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing how much I enjoy what is required from both of us for a next time to occur, I am very willing for there to be more than just one next time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n She saw a look in Adam\u2019s eyes she could not recall seeing before. It was as if he were struggling with what he wanted to say. \u201cStorm you know there are ways to make sure there is no next time. Ways for us to control it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot with us Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n He took her back into his arms. He knew she was right. With them ever since, in her mind, he had begun to treat her as his wife he found he couldn\u2019t control anything.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They had made plans to invite everyone for dinner so that they could tell them there would be another baby come July but like all the other plans they had made for their lives these didn\u2019t go quite as they thought either.<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello pa, Little Joe, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrandpa, Uncle Hoss, Uncle Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello AJ.\u201d Ben took his grandson into his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cSo young man where are your brother and sister?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUpstairs. Mama\u2019s cleaning them up. Grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama says she\u2019s gonna\u2019 get fat again because she got another baby grownin\u2019 in her belly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ.\u201d<\/p>\n AJ had been so amazed at what he had been told Adam should have known he would never be able to keep it to himself, even if he had been told to keep it a secret.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s true. Papa ain\u2019t it true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t it true.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell isn\u2019t it papa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it\u2019s true pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm came downstairs holding Benjamin and Elizabeth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s true? \u201c Hoss and Little Joe each went and took a baby from her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe should have waited to tell AJ as well. It seems he can\u2019t keep a secret.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa I thought I wasn\u2019t suppose to keep secrets from grandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not AJ.\u201d Ben went to Storm and kissed her, then he took her arm and led her to the table and helped her into a chair.<\/p>\n \u201cBen we have until July. I won\u2019t be treated like glass from now until then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes you will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo buts Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah mama no buts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI give up. I can\u2019t possibly argue with the two of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm found it wasn\u2019t so bad. Mrs. Keyes came earlier and left only after Adam was home. Storm was just happy that Adam hadn\u2019t insisted that she be confined to bed. Adam had asked Mrs. Keyes if she would like to come and stay with them when Storm\u2019s time grew near. Rebecca was more than happy to. She had never told her but she felt in a way that Storm was like the child she had never had. At the Christmas party the rest of the town was let in on the good news. Storm wrote and let George and Lady Olivia know. Winter passed and spring arrived. Spring of course is always followed by summer and this summer would be filled with two reasons for celebrating. June would find everyone celebrating the announcement of the future wedding of Mr. Hoss Cartwright to Miss. Pollyann Moore and in July Adam and Storm would be welcoming their fourth child. \u00a0 Storm and Polly were sitting on the front porch of Storm and Adam\u2019s house one warm summer day in mid July.<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss were happy that they seemed to truly like each other. Adam had watched as Storm had treated Hoss as if he were one of their children. The first time Polly had come over to dinner Storm had treated her as if she were some criminal, asking her so many questions, but as time passed her suspicions seemed to disappear. Adam had asked what had brought about the change and she had told him the fact that she could see that Polly loved Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d Polly had at first felt that what she had been told about Storm was true. When she had first started dating Hoss some of the other girls in town had said that if she really wanted to have a chance at winning Hoss\u2019s heart she had to at first get Storm\u2019s acceptance because Hoss would go against his brothers he would even go against his father but he would never go against Storm. Some went as far as to say she would never approve because she liked having all the Cartwright men, not to mention the Ponderosa, to herself and her children. The more time Polly was in Storm\u2019s company she knew that what she had been told were all lies.<\/p>\n In the beginning Storm had, perhaps, treated her as if she was some kind of an enemy but Polly knew it was only because she loved Hoss as much as she herself did. Not in the same way, but just as much.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Polly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t get mad and don\u2019t take this the wrong way but, well, it\u2019s just that sometimes Adam scares me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cScares you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mean like a monster or anything. It\u2019s just that he and Hoss are so different.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes they are but then all of Ben\u2019s sons are different. I always thought of it that Hoss thinks with his heart, Joe with his emotions, and Adam with his head. Although not necessarily and not exclusively. I know people think Adam is always in control and that he is logical and pensive at all times, but I am his wife Polly. I have seen him do things no one would think him capable of thinking of let alone doing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Polly could never imagine him doing some of the things Hoss had.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like an example? Just be warned it may make you look at him a little differently the next time you see him. It was about ten days after the twins were born. I\u2019d not been allowed out of bed in those ten days and upon Dr. Martin\u2019s visit that day I found out I would be remaining there for another week or so just to be safe. Before Adam came home Mrs. Keyes asked me, as she always did, if I wanted or needed anything. I was feeling a little dejected because I knew I would be in bed for at least another seven days and I guess I kind of took it out on Mrs. Keyes because I answered her rather sharply and told her what I really wanted was a bath. She must have told Adam because later that night, right after the twins had fallen asleep, he came and asked me if I was tired. I told him a little thinking he wished to talk but instead of sitting down he came and carried me downstairs. I saw he had prepared a bath in front of the fireplace. Polly there is nothing more tender, more love affirming, than when a man washes your hair for no other reason than because you need him to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean you only need to wait ten days after having a baby to\u2026well to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Polly. I have been told you should wait at least two months but we didn\u2019t make love that night. That wasn\u2019t why Adam did it. He did it because it was something I needed, not because he thought there would be something for him in the end. Quite honestly if I had even suggested we make love he would have turned me down knowing that it might cause me harm. After we both agreed that I was finally all clean he left me in the tub. He told me that when I wanted to get out, or if the water got too cold, to call him. Then he went upstairs and left me alone. I hadn\u2019t realized how long it had been since I\u2019d been alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it\u2019s the same with Hoss. People just can\u2019t believe he can be as gentle as he is just because he\u2019s so big.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly those who don\u2019t know him. I have seen him take the twins into his arms and\u2026..OOOH.\u201d Polly heard Storm take in a gasp of air, saw her eyes widen, and watched as she covered her mouth with her hand as if to stop something from escaping. \u201cStorm is everything alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it may be time Polly. Do you think you could go and find someone? Ben should be at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go and see. Will you be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Polly did arrive at the house happy to find not only Ben but Adam and Hoss there as well. Ben, Adam and Polly rode back to Storm while Hoss went for the doctor. They found Storm sitting in the chair Polly had left her in. Polly watched as Adam went to Storm and gently kissed her forehead then he tenderly cradled her in his arms and carried her upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready Polly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry? Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReady to see just how much a man can walk back and forth and still not wear a ditch into the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves her very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Polly, as Hoss loves you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that, it\u2019s just that, well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam isn\u2019t Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo he\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne need only to look at Hoss to know what he\u2019s feeling, while with Adam most people have to dig before they can tell you what he\u2019s feeling. Most people do, even I find myself having difficulty reading his emotions sometimes, but not Storm. She knows what he\u2019s feeling sometimes before he even feels it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think it will ever be that way with Hoss and I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rebecca took the children to Ben\u2019s house after she and Little Joe saw Hoss in town. Little Joe and she had taken them into town for a treat and also to give Storm some time to rest. Rebecca thought that it seemed as if Storm would be getting very little rest today.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Little Joe you let me know as soon as possible how everything goes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will Mrs. Keyes. AJ you help with your brother and sister and mind Mrs. Keyes.”<\/p>\n \u201cYes Uncle Little Joe.\u201d AJ stood there waiting while Mrs. Keyes got the twins out of the back of the wagon. He knew something was happening and he knew it had to do with his mother. He had overheard his papa once saying to his grandpa that he was worried that something bad might happen to his mama. He decided to ask his Uncle Little Joe because he would never lie to him.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Little Joe is mama gonna be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe caught himself smiling. He couldn\u2019t help but think, as he looked at AJ, how much he looked like his brother. It struck him as funny but it was almost as if Adam was looking to him for answers. \u201cYes AJ she\u2019ll be fine and when you see her next she\u2019ll have a new baby brother or sister for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019ll be good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell mama I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everyone was waiting patiently for Adam\u2019s new child to come into the world. Adam still didn\u2019t sit still but he wasn\u2019t quite as bad as last time. Perhaps if it had taken as long as last time he would have gotten as bad but thankfully it didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Polly had gotten up from where she had been sitting next to Hoss and went over to where Adam was standing. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Polly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm was right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have found that she usually is, but if I may ask just what is she right about now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou aren\u2019t always in control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere she\u2019s concerned Polly, I very seldom am the one in control.\u201d Polly stood there seeing a small trace of the man Storm could see in Adam, she could see a small trace of something that reminded her of Hoss. After only a few minutes they all heard the baby cry.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Was it twins again and this time it had been kept from everyone except Adam?<\/p>\n \u201cThe baby. It sounds like the baby is alright pa that just leaves Storm. Why were you thinking it might be twins?\u201d<\/p>\n Soon after they heard the door close and watched as Paul came downstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s fine Adam and so is your daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDaughter? Just how many fingers can I be wrapped around? First Storm and then Elizabeth, who is barely nineteen months old, and now this one. How am I going to handle all three?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as Storm goes son I think you have had enough experience with that. Where your daughters are concerned we are all going to have fun watching you try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure pa, laugh. What you fail to realize is that I may have two daughters but you have two granddaughters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t failed to realize it Adam, I know it only too well, and I thank you for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I go up and see them Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n They all managed to keep their desire to see the new baby in check for ten minutes, then Ben, Hoss and Little Joe all went upstairs. Hoss had told Polly to come with them but she said she would wait.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam may we come in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course pa, come on in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo isn\u2019t she beautiful?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she most certainly is Storm. Equal in beauty to my other granddaughter and only surpassed by the beauty of their mother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly for now, in time they will both be even more beautiful then me. Hoss where is Polly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDownstairs waiting. She said she thought you might be tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you tell her she is a part of this family and I could use another woman up here? Tell her if she doesn\u2019t come up I will send Adam down to fetch her.\u201d<\/p>\n As Hoss left the room Adam turned to Storm. \u201cWhy did that sound like a threat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMay I ask why Polly would consider me a threat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause unlike me some people see your hard headedness as something to be frightened of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see it as something to conquer.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Polly came into the room. Polly seemed to be trying to hide behind Hoss which, considering the difference in their sizes, wasn\u2019t too difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cPolly come here. Don\u2019t you want to see your niece?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy niece? I guess I hadn\u2019t realized she\u2019d be my niece.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell she is, same as Elizabeth is and as AJ and Benjamin are your nephews.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s her name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right Storm you haven\u2019t told us her name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure Ben. Adam I named the twins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes you did and you picked fine names.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEmily named AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think this one is all yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll mine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sat on the bed beside Storm and looked into his daughters face.<\/p>\n \u201cWell Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thinking Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre we going to know her name before her first birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sat and stared at her a little while longer. Finally he recognized that the answer was right in front of him the whole time. \u201cI have it. Skye Kendall Cartwright. Do you approve Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam I most definitely approve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo was it easier this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know Ben. Last time the twins were just over six pounds each. This one was almost eight pounds and look at the size of her head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm you\u2019re embarrassing Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPolly, Adam? I think Hoss looks more embarrassed than Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh Storm.\u201d Hoss found himself looking at the baby\u2019s head and had found himself thinking about what Storm was implying.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you gentlemen go on downstairs and leave me and Polly alone for a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re not too tired?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not so tired, besides I think Polly has something she wishes to ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n The last part had been whispered so that only Adam could hear. \u201cI think I could use a drink, how about the rest of you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, before you go, where are my other babies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes has them at the house. Storm I almost forgot, AJ said to tell you that he loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you see him Little Joe tell him I love him too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n They left the room to go in search of their celebratory drink.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s funny Polly, why is it woman do all the work and the men get to celebrate. Why don\u2019t you come closer? Would you like to hold her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I? Storm I have never held a baby this new before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere may be a time soon when you may get the chance to hold a baby even newer.\u201d Storm saw the look on Polly\u2019s face as she took the newborn baby into her arms. It was the look of wonder and joy, of disbelief that anything so miraculous could really happen. She thought on what Storm had said and instead of feeling self-conscious she found herself hoping that in the not too distant future she would be holding her own miracle.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm did it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose so. I mean I can remember yelling out, so it must have hurt, but I can\u2019t remember the pain itself. Don\u2019t be afraid Polly. Look at her and tell me if it isn\u2019t worth suffering any amount of pain to be able to look into the eyes of your children and to know that the love you and your husband share will live on in them.\u201d<\/p>\n Polly saw that Storm\u2019s eyes were only being kept open through extreme effort on her part. \u201cStorm you look tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShould I put the baby in the cradle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you take her down to her father, he\u2019ll bring her up later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight Aunt Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two days later AJ and the twins were allowed to see their new sister. The twins weren\u2019t too interested but AJ was. He wanted to stay even after the twins had been taken downstairs to play. At Storm\u2019s insistence he was allowed to.<\/p>\n “So do you like her AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes mama. She\u2019s real pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa says I have to go to school soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes in a few months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to go. I want to stay here with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be alright. Maybe on some days while you\u2019re at school me and your brother and sisters will wait in town for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes really. Now why don\u2019t you go on downstairs and play with Benjamin and Elizabeth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright mama.\u201d<\/p>\n AJ ran downstairs and found his father sitting and reading. \u201cSo how are your mama and new sister feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Papa, mama said that when I go to school she\u2019ll wait for me in town sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure she will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa where are Elizabeth and Benjamin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOutside with Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam watched as AJ ran outside to join his siblings. He glanced up the stairs and knew he would need to talk with Storm. She had to know that she couldn\u2019t keep on eye on AJ all the time no matter how much she wanted to. It wouldn\u2019t do him any good and it wasn\u2019t good for her either. He supposed she was just acting as any mother would.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice of you to join us AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello Mrs. Keyes. I was just talkin\u2019 to mama and papa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n She watched as he joined his brother and sister. It brought a smile to her face to see how like Adam he was. A while later she noticed a man watching the children. She called AJ and got up to get the twins.<\/p>\n \u201cAJ I want you to go inside and tell your papa there is a strange man here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Mrs. Keyes.\u201d<\/p>\n AJ would have asked more questions but Mrs. Keyes sounded scared about something. He would go get his papa as Mrs. Keyes had asked because his papa could make any fright go away. Adam looked up from his book when he heard the front door open.<\/p>\n \u201cAJ what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Keyes said I should come and tell you that there is a strange man outside.\u201d Adam quickly got out of his chair and went to find out just who this stranger was and what he wanted. He should have told AJ to wait inside but was in such a hurry that he had forgotten to.<\/p>\n \u201cAre these Storm\u2019s babies?\u201d Adam knew who he was. He could hardly believe it but he was certain.<\/p>\n \u201cYes they are Matt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMatt? Adam this is Storm\u2019s father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Mrs. Keyes it is. Matt if you are here to slam another door on Storm\u2019s offer I will\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I\u2019m not Adam. Where is she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUpstairs. She\u2019s probably sleeping right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSleeping? Adam if you don\u2019t wish for me to see her just say so. I remember how hard it was to get her to sleep even when she was a child. Adam she is my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs you have told me countless times Matt. Now, though, she is my wife. Right now she is probably napping because so is the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBaby? The babies are right here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, our new sister, Skye. Papa should I tell mama that her papa is here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo AJ. You stay and play out here. Matt would you like to come inside?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I would.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam prayed that this was what it seemed to be. Would Matt finally give Storm the one thing he himself could not, the one thing he wished he could? Would Matt finally give her his love, his acceptance, or at least tell her he knows she wasn\u2019t to blame for her mother\u2019s death. That he had finally realized there was nothing she could have done.<\/p>\n \u201cI hardly recognized you Matt. I don\u2019t think I have ever seen you anything but clean shaven.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue but when a man is out in the wild he tends to forget about what his daily civilized life consisted of, that includes shaving and customary bathing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve noticed, but where have you been? Storm doesn\u2019t know that you never went back to England after the wedding. By the time I received word from George, Storm was already carrying the twins. Then\u2026.well I just never told her. I didn\u2019t want her to worry about you too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were right not to tell her. She would have worried, although I can\u2019t imagine why.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMatt, as I told you, Storm just had a baby three days ago so I would like to know why you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSkye? Is that really the baby\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut stop trying to avoid the question. Why am I here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill watching over her. You always were her protector. You were the one she turned to, the one she would run to. Even before Skye\u2026..Skye once told me that she had a dream that you and Storm were married. Imagine being told your nine year old daughter had already met the man who would take her away from you. Maybe now you can understand a little better now that you have daughters of your own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid not. Storm would never let me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes and Skye would have never let me. You wanted to know where I\u2019ve been. I\u2019ve been all over. I\u2019m not sure if I was running away from or trying to find something. What I do know is that one day, one very lonely day, I met a man. A man so afraid of losing the one person that he loved more than anything he pushed her away. He had pushed her right to the one person he feared would take her away. When I realized that I thought that if I took her away from here, from you, her heart would always be mine. I couldn\u2019t see that even if she loved you she still loved me. No matter how I hurt her she still loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course she does, you\u2019re her father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven though I haven\u2019t always behaved as such. Adam if I could I would go back and change so much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t change the past Matt but you can change future. Storm is always saying that things happened as they are meant to. She once told me that she was happy that I had married Emily. That if I hadn\u2019t we wouldn\u2019t have AJ but even more than that she was happy that Emily had gotten to know what it was like to be truly loved. That if it was Emily\u2019s destiny to die young she knew what it was like to love someone and be loved in return. She said even if she and I had never gotten married she knew that I cared for her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour wife is an amazing woman Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour daughter always was amazing Matt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think it would be possible for me to clean up a bit? I\u2019m afraid if I try to see my new\u2026.\u201d Adam had heard his voice falter.<\/p>\n \u201cGranddaughter? Matt, she\u2019s your granddaughter as is Elizabeth, and as Benjamin and AJ are your grandsons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of taking her away from me, you help her to give me so much more than I deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake her away from you? Matt I could have never taken her away from you. God help me if I had even suggested such a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Matt went and cleaned up while Adam went to see how Storm was. If he didn\u2019t think she was strong enough to handle the news of her father\u2019s arrival then he would tell Matt to wait, that it was too soon after Skye\u2019s birth. He figured that Matt would accuse him of trying to keep her from him after all but Adam didn\u2019t care, if necessary he would throw Matt out of the house and tell him to come back in a few days and by then Storm would be strong enough. When he saw Storm he realized once again that his wife had never been nor would she ever be too weak to handle anything life held for her.<\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart, are you awake?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes my love, we\u2019re both awake, although one of us is slightly hungrier than the other.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam now recalled hearing Mrs. Keyes go into the kitchen with the children while he and Matt had been talking. \u201cI\u2019m sorry angel, it\u2019s past lunchtime isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would have come and gotten something for myself but I thought you would be angry if I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConcerned not angry.\u201d For the first time she noticed the odd smile on Adam\u2019s face. \u201cAdam what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know how much I love you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost as much as I love you. Now would you please tell me what it is that has you smiling like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst you have to promise me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise me that you will stay in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you do know that there are some women who have a baby and then go out and plow a field.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot YOU. Now promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. There is someone here to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho? Is it George and Olivia?”<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew and Judith?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, they won\u2019t be here for another two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThan who Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello my little angel. Am I still welcome?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa? Oh PAPA!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stepped aside and let Matt go to Storm. After their tear filled hug ended Storm reached to wipe away the tears from her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cPapa, did you see your grandchildren?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, all but the newest one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSkye, Skye Kendall. Adam named her papa.\u201d Storm reached over and uncovered the bundle that held the baby, that had since fallen asleep, lying beside her. \u201cIsn\u2019t she beautiful papa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she is. She looks just like you.\u201d Matt knew he didn\u2019t need to ask but he felt he had too. \u201cStorm can you forgive me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa there is nothing to forgive. I\u2019m so happy now, perhaps if everything that had happened before had never happened I wouldn\u2019t be this happy now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverything happens for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it does papa. It does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I love you and I am so proud of the woman you\u2019ve become.\u201d It felt so good to Matt to finally say it, to finally allow himself to feel it.<\/p>\n \u201cPapa I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt hugged his daughter once again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Later that afternoon Ben came to see his grandchildren and was very surprised by what he found.<\/p>\n \u201cMatt? Is that really you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen you didn\u2019t think I\u2019d let you have all the fun of watching my daughter\u2019s children grow up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hoped you wouldn\u2019t. Now is that our new granddaughter in your arms?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it is. Skye. Her name is Skye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Matt, I know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two weeks later Andrew and Judith arrived very happy to meet Matt and know that Storm had finally gotten something she wanted. They both had seen how much she was willing to sacrifice for everyone she loved, it was nice to see she finally had something work out for her. It had been planned for Hop-Sing to come and make supper for everyone at Storm and Adam\u2019s house because Storm had been informed that she wasn\u2019t strong enough yet.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not strong enough?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sensed that perhaps he should have used different words. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean it like that Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou had better not have. I have given birth to three babies, so don\u2019t you go and tell me I\u2019m not strong enough.\u201d<\/p>\n He decided that a change of tactics would be best. \u201cIt\u2019s just that you\u2019ll be so busy with the children I thought I would try and make it a little easier for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo now you\u2019re implying I can\u2019t handle my children and the house.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had learned through the years he and Storm had been together that there was only one sure way to quiet her and appease her anger. He took her into his arms and kissed her.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n The tone in her voice made him realize just where her recent incessant anger sprang from. \u201cStorm, Skye is not ever a month old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. Adam what\u2019s wrong with me?\u201d He again pulled her close to him. \u201cAdam I want you so badly, I miss you so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I miss you but you know what Paul said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It\u2019s best to wait for two months, but Adam I don\u2019t want too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither do I but it\u2019s what is best for you so we will, so stop pouting.\u201d<\/p>\n If Storm knew one thing it was that Adam would refuse her if in not doing so he might harm her, so she gave up the fight. \u201cWhen will Hop-Sing be here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s already here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think it would be alright if I help him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that will be an acceptable compromise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I was thinking about something the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell Mrs. Keyes is just like family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes she certainly has become like an aunt to our children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think, well that maybe we could build a small house for her closer to here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou want me to ask her if she would agree to such a move.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you? Tell her she can pick out where she wants you to build it and tell her she can tell you just what she wants it to look like.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anything else I should tell her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t think of anything right now but if I do I will let you know. Now I\u2019m going to help Hop-Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n After a wonderful supper everyone was sitting around. The men were having an after dinner drink and the women were having coffee. Storm, for once, had empty arms and even though she thought she would like it she didn\u2019t. Matt was holding Skye, Ben had Elizabeth, AJ was sitting between Judith and Andrew, and Benjamin was in his father\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need another baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWHAT?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy arms are empty.\u201d<\/p>\n They all watched as AJ got off his seat and ran to his mother.<\/p>\n \u201cMama you can hold me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you AJ. I would like that.\u201d<\/p>\n He climbed into her lap and rested his head on her chest. Anyone with eyes could see that Storm loved AJ as much as any child she had given birth to.<\/p>\n \u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTimmy says that when his mama had his sister it hurt her real bad. He said he heard her screamin\u2019 and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam. You never stopped me from asking questions so I won\u2019t let you do that to our son. What is it you want to know AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it true mama? Did I hurt you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo my little love, you are the only one who didn\u2019t\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Elizabeth, Benjamin and Skye did?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ do you remember when you came in the other day and said you had fallen down? Do you remember that you had scraped your knee and when we looked it was bleeding?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember mama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember you said it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow do you remember feeling the hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I just remember it hurt and that you cleaned it and gave me a hug and a kiss and it didn\u2019t hurt no more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the same with babies. I know it hurt but I can\u2019t remember hurting and every time I hold and kiss your brother and sisters I even forget that it hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you mama.\u201d He threw his arms around her neck and hugged her as only a five year old can.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love you both, but young man it is time for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut papa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo buts AJ. Now say your good nights.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll help you with the twins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I mean if it\u2019s alright Storm I would like to help Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course Polly. One should start practicing as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone was surprised to see what a bright shade of red Hoss turned. \u201cI love you Hoss and while I do enjoy watching you with my children I can hardly wait to see you with a child of your own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you too Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey what about me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you too Joe but you will have to find a girl willing to marry you before I try to picture you with a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWILLING to marry me? Do you think I couldn\u2019t find a girl to marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA girl yes but it\u2019s a woman you\u2019d have a hard time finding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery funny Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes AJ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you known papa for a long time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAJ it\u2019s time for bed.\u201d Adam knew his son was trying to stall.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam it will only take a minute to give him an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs I recall when you first came here it was I who couldn\u2019t put him to sleep.\u201d Storm chose to ignore Adam\u2019s comment. \u201cAJ I have known your papa since I was a year younger than you are right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not quite that long, AJ. Mamas not that old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but papa is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes he is and he\u2019s getting rather grumpy in his old age so you had best go to bed as he has said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight mama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoodnight my most handsome son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 13<\/strong><\/p>\n Later that evening Storm sat in bed nursing Skye. Adam lay next to her as he had many a night watching her with awe. It was times like these his love for her filled him to the point of overflowing. It was these times that he wanted to take her into his arms and never let her go. \u201cStorm I love you so very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love you. Adam do you realize how lucky our children are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? I mean besides the fact that they have the most wonderful and most beautiful mother in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey have three grandfathers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut only one grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe but they have an Aunt Rebecca and an Aunt Polly. They also have an Uncle Hoss and an Uncle Little Joe, and maybe when Little Joe finds that woman who is willing to marry him they will have another aunt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were baiting Joe, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell he is getting old enough to at least start thinking about settling down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou women, never happy to see a man single.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it up and you just may find yourself single.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot me my love, I could never go back to living without you,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood, because I would never let you try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm our anniversary is coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes in another month we will be married three years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThree years? Has it really been three years?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe so. Three glorious and wonderful years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking Storm that maybe we should get away. Just the two of us for a few days\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow Storm it will do everyone good to\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He had his argument all ready and had started before he had realized her answer had made it unnecessary. \u201cDid you just say okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I did. It will be two months by then, or at least near enough, and you\u2019re right we could use some time alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you Storm and God forgive me because I would never really want it to be but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are times you wish it were just you and I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know because sometimes so do I, but then AJ hugs me, or I hear the twins laughing about something only they can understand, or Skye starts to cry and then I realize if I didn\u2019t have them to give some of the love I feel I\u2019d just explode or I\u2019d kill you with trying to satisfy that love.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be an enjoyable way to die.\u201d<\/p>\n They decided that they would go to Carson City for four days. Mrs. Keyes, who had finally convinced Storm and Adam to call her Rebecca, would come and stay at the house. Ben would stay there as well just in case she needed any help. Rebecca was helping Storm with last minute details before she and Adam left.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you two behave yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Rebecca I do believe you are blushing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am not young lady.\u201d Suddenly Storm became aware of something. \u201cRebecca you love Ben don\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow Storm you know as well as I that everyone loves Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as you do. All these years. How could I have been so blind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause as I said everyone loves Ben and you were so lost in your love for Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRebecca, Adam always knew how I felt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. That is one of your strengths. You have the ability to tell people just how you feel without fearing that they will reject you. You never cared if it was proper. When you loved someone you told them, you showed them, it didn\u2019t matter to you who was around to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter mama died I realized that life is so short. When you have the chance or urge to tell someone how you feel you had best do it because you may never get that chance again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what if Adam\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHad never loved me back? It wouldn\u2019t have changed the way I felt about him but at least he\u2019d know. I wouldn\u2019t have to hide it from him. More than that Rebecca what if I hadn\u2019t of told him, look at all I would be missing. I may not have had the easiest life but I wouldn\u2019t change one minute of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm! Come on sweetheart. We have to start going because it will take you another hour before you will be able to leave the children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s right. Oh maybe we shouldn\u2019t go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm it\u2019s only four days. It will do you good to be away from them, just as it will do them good to be away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Skye? She\u2019s still nursing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can nurse your husband for four days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I? I mean I didn\u2019t think\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow that that thought is in your head, go.\u201d<\/p>\n To Adam\u2019s surprise it only took thirty minutes for Storm to say her goodbyes to their children. AJ had a hard time understanding why he couldn\u2019t go with them, after all he wasn\u2019t a baby like his brother and sisters were. Ben tried to tell him he couldn\u2019t be missing that much school and wouldn\u2019t he be happy to show his mama and papa how well he did his work, but it was his father\u2019s promise of a present if he was good that made his attempt to argue cease. It could also have been that he knew he wasn\u2019t going to win.<\/p>\n They arrived in Carson City in the late afternoon. Once they were checked into the hotel and in their room, Adam thought that perhaps Storm would like to go and get something to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cSo are you hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n He watched as she walked over to the window and closed the drapes. She then walked over to the door and locked it. Adam began to feel like a snared rabbit. When she turned around to face him he knew no rabbit was ever as happy as he to be caught. \u201cYes my love, I\u2019m starving.\u201d It was the first time in quite a while that they made love without the fear of being interrupted. Quite a while since they had made love.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm I was talking about food before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you say that then? Now I\u2019m much too tired to get up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s alright I\u2019m not as hungry as I was before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because you ate more than any of your children ever did. I swear I have never felt this empty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry. You have to understand I have never\u2026.\u201d She had heard the teasing leave his voice. \u201cAdam I love you, so I wish there was something more I could say, more I could do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore you could do? Storm you have given me three beautiful children and you are helping me raise four amazing people. What more could you do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. There are times I just wish I could take away every pain you have ever felt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, you of all people should know everything that has happened has made me who I am. The good and the bad. You take away the bad and I\u2019d be a different person. Is that what you\u2019d want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I love you just as you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen likes Rebecca doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow where did that question come from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. He does, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure he does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think that he might even love her a little?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, you trying to get Little Joe married is one thing; but pa is another.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Adam? Why should Ben spend the rest of his life alone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm, my father has lost three wives. I lost one. How he survived that pain three times I can\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam isn\u2019t loving someone worth the risk of losing them? You must believe it is or you wouldn\u2019t have been willing to take the chance and fall in love with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not a fair example. I loved you before I ever met Emily, so it would have been impossible for me to keep you out of my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you have Adam? Would you have really been like papa and closed your heart?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose not. It would have meant I would have had to close my heart to AJ as well and I could have never done that.\u201d<\/p>\n She reached and slowly ran her hands over his face and down his chest. As her hands approached his lower stomach he laid his own hand over hers.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Adam; let me.\u201d As she touched him she saw his eyes close, heard him begin to breathe heavily. Even if by now she didn\u2019t know what these signs meant, the evidence of what she was doing to him was apparent in her hand. When he opened his eyes it was to find her straddling his body.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, help me.\u201d He helped her to position herself and then helped her to slowly lower herself. When he was completely inside her she lay down and rested her head on his chest. \u201cAdam.\u201d She again sat up.<\/p>\n \u201cNow what?\u201d He placed his hands on her hips and moved her up and down. After he had removed his hands she kept moving. As her passion grew he could sense she was losing the ability to control her movements by herself, so he again placed his hands on her hips and helped her. After she had reached her climax he could tell she was completely spent so he kept her moving. Only later did he think he may have been a little too forceful but he had needed her so very badly. When he was as spent as she he removed his hands from her hips and wasn\u2019t surprised when she again laid her head on his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you do it? How can you keep such control over your movements when\u2026..Adam all I know is that I couldn\u2019t even think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShhh, sweetheart. I\u2019m a man and the only way I\u2019m going to find that kind of satisfaction is if I keep moving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart if it means so much to you we will keep practicing, okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Adam. Adam I\u2019m hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine why? Do you want to go out and get something to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was kind of hoping that maybe\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I could go and get something and bring it back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything in particular you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, whatever you can find will be just fine.\u201d When Adam left the room he found out it wasn\u2019t quite as late as he had thought. He decided to see if he could find a present to bring to Storm.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Adam Cartwright. It\u2019s good to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou too Mrs. Borne. How is your husband doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. He\u2019s around here somewhere. I heard that you were coming for a visit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm and I decided we needed some time alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many children now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour. Two boys and two girls. AJ is five, Elizabeth and Benjamin are twenty-one months, and Skye is two months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour father must be so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes he is, even more now that Hoss will be married come June.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo that leaves only one son home with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it does.\u201d And, Adam thought, in time Little Joe would marry and that would leave his father alone. His father would never be alone in the emotional sense but nights could get lonely when you have no one in the house with you, when you weren\u2019t expecting someone to come in the door. He knew his father would never come and live with Storm and him; he was too independent for that.<\/p>\n \u201cIs something wrong Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I was just thinking. Mrs. Borne could you wrap up this music box. I\u2019m sure you will see Storm tomorrow. We promised presents for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n He picked up some food for he and Storm and made his way back to the hotel. Adam went to their room and was a little alarmed to find the door unlocked. Than he thought that perhaps Storm had been watching out the window and had seen him coming and had unlocked it for him. He had even begun to hope that she would be waiting for him in bed. He went in and laid the present and food down. He headed to the bedroom and was surprised to find her not there.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d He wasn\u2019t sure why he called out her name he could see she wasn\u2019t there. Maybe she had decided to go and get some air. After all they had spent all the time since they had arrived in this room. He went down and looked around outside but didn\u2019t see her anywhere. He was sure she wouldn\u2019t have wandered far from the hotel without having left word so he went back inside to ask the clerk if he had seen her leave.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me but did you happen to see my wife? Did she leave a message for me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid not Mr. Cartwright but than I only came on duty ten minutes ago. It is possible that she left a message with Otto and he forget to mention it. Would you like me to send someone over to ask him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary. I\u2019m sure she just decided to get some air and will be back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Storm knew that Adam was probably already back at the hotel. She was worried about what he would think when he saw she wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do we want? We want money Mrs. Cartwright. It\u2019s something your husband has and something he will gladly give us to get you back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow can you be so sure? There a lot of men who prefer their money over their wives.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes there are but a woman like you any man would be willing to give all he has to get back or that man would be a fool. Is your husband a fool?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, my husband is no fool. So tell me just how much will it cost him to get me back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor something so pretty I think we could go as high as ten thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot for a Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t honestly believe he has that much money with him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not but he can get it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot that quickly. Like I said that is a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019ll find a way or he\u2019ll be finding someone else to raise those kids of his.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou go near my children and I\u2019ll kill you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe you just might.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam waited and when almost an hour had passed he began to really worry. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d He was again standing at the desk in the lobby. \u201cCan you tell me where this Otto lives? I would like to go and talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n The clerk again offered to send someone but Adam insisted that he wanted to go himself, so he was given directions and he made his way there. He knocked at the front door of the house he had been directed to. \u201cI\u2019m sorry to bother you at this hour but, well I\u2019m afraid I only have a first name, is Otto here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Mrs. Ritten. I\u2019m afraid my husband is already in bed. Is there something I can help you with?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid not. I need to speak with him. My name is Adam Cartwright. My wife and I are staying at the hotel and I need to know if my wife left a message for me with your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure if she had he would have left it at the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Mrs. Ritten. I need to know.\u201d Mrs. Ritten knew the man in front of her was not going to leave unless he talked with her husband. \u201cOne minute and I\u2019ll go and ask him.\u201d Adam could hear arguing as he waited in the open doorway. \u201cHe\u2019s not going away Otto.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him I don\u2019t know anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou tell him. I don\u2019t think he will be happy until he hears it from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell I can\u2019t face him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Mr. Ritten? Why can\u2019t you face me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it you know about my wife?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Ritten you can tell me now while you are still unharmed or I can make you tell me what you know.\u201d<\/p>\n Otto knew he was a dead man if he told and he also was beginning to fear he would be a dead man if he didn\u2019t. The later being the more eminent danger he would deal with it first. \u201cThey said they wouldn\u2019t hurt her. They just want money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey? They who? Who has my wife?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClive Brooke and Martin Drake. They said if I didn\u2019t help them they would kill my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just go to the sheriff instead of trading mine for your\u2019s?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t. I owe them money. All I had to do was give them the key to your room and I could forget about what I owed them. They were going to wait until after you were asleep tonight but when they saw you leave without your wife they figured it would be easier to take her then instead of wait and have to fight you to take her. They thought they might hurt you maybe kill you and then who would pay to get her back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they were afraid I\u2019d kill them. Maybe they knew that between my wife and me they wouldn\u2019t stand a chance. They would have known that if I were dead my family would have paid to get her back. It could be that they are cowards and figured the only way they would survive was to face my wife alone. Now tell me just how are they going to get word to me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey said they would leave word at the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Ritten, I suggest you go to the sheriff and tell him just what is going on. I also suggest you ask him to lock you up because if any harm comes to my wife I will kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n Otto wished he could sense some anger in Adam\u2019s words because then he wouldn\u2019t have feared them so much.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The two men had left Storm alone with the young lady who appeared to be their maid, cook and also their entertainment. Storm did as she always did and tried to believe the best of a person until the worst was proven to be true.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClive said I ain\u2019t suppose to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? What harm can come of talking?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, none. Now I guess you already know that my name is Storm so what\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEve? My husband\u2019s name is Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. Clive says he\u2019s gonna give us a lot of money to get you back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d give his life to get me back but God help anyone who tried to collect it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe really love you that much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it\u2019s almost as much as I love him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClive said you got kids.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes we have four.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour? You don\u2019t look to be no older than me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably not. Our first boy, AJ, is five he\u2019s from Adam\u2019s first wife. Then there\u2019s the twins, Benjamin and Elizabeth, their twenty-one months old and our new baby, Skye, she\u2019s two months old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt must be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work but I wouldn\u2019t trade one minute of it. Eve do you love Clive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI use to but now sometimes I really don\u2019t feel nothing\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if I told you that if you help me to get away I could get you enough money so you could get away from here and start a new life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClive would kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe would never find you. You would have mine and Adam\u2019s help and if you were to help me Adam would never let any harm come to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow much money could you get me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs much as you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe I\u2019ll think on it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Eve, while you\u2019re thinking, think about my children as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm thought maybe she might get out of this before anything too bad had a chance to happen. Within an hour the two men came back and Storm realized what a bad judge she had been.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Mrs. Cartwright. Eve.\u201d The way he said her name Storm knew right then that she had been wrong to expect any help from Eve. He had said it the same way she had said Adam\u2019s name, the same way she had heard Adam say hers.<\/p>\n \u201cClive she tried to convince me to help her. She said she would give me enough money so that I cold get away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to get away from me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not, I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Cartwright, did you really believe I would have left you here alone with Eve if I wasn\u2019t certain I could trust her? Do you think your husband is the only man who can command such devotion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo but unlike you he deserves it.\u201d Storm felt the slap for a while after it was over. It hadn\u2019t surprised her that Eve had slapped her because if anyone had implied about Adam what she had about Clive she would have done no less.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think you\u2019re the only woman who loves her man!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnlike your man loving mine won\u2019t bring me more grief than joy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you so sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEve how long have you two been together? Adam and I have been married for three years, we have known each other for so many more and in all that time he has given me more joy than any woman deserves. He has given me four beautiful and wonderful children. He proves to me every day that he loves me. Can you say the same?\u201d<\/p>\n Eve didn\u2019t answer she was too busy thinking about what had been said.<\/p>\n Adam had sent a wire to his father letting him know what was going on. That was the only time he left the hotel. Otto had the good sense to go to the sheriff, who had come by to let Adam know he knew the men Otto had told him about and would keep an eye out for them. Adam had asked that he not do anything to interfere with them because he might not find out where they were keeping Storm if he did.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you Adam Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n He had been sitting in the lobby thinking things he didn\u2019t want to think. He raised his head to see who had just spoken. He found himself looking at a young woman. One not much older than Storm. \u201cYes I\u2019m Adam Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome fella\u2019 said I should give you this letter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat fella\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know. He just gave me a whole dollar to give it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d Adam took the note to his room and opened it. \u201cSo how much do they want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe? What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you really think we wouldn\u2019t come?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss you should have stayed with Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t have to stay with\u00a0me<\/em>\u00a0because I came with\u00a0him<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have been around Storm too much Polly, your starting to act like her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t find that to be a bad thing Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I suppose not Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou still haven\u2019t told us how much they want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTen thousand Joe, they want ten thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow are we supposed to get it to them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe note says I have three days to get the money, and then they\u2019ll send word about when and where to drop it off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want me to go and send a wire to pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes please Joe, I\u2019d rather wait here in case there are any more messages. I gave the clerk instructions to bring any messages straight here.\u201d Little Joe left and Adam turned to Hoss and Polly. Storm was not the only one he was worrying about. \u201cHow are the kids?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re fine. Pa hasn\u2019t told them anything \u2018cept that you might be stayin\u2019 a little longer than you had said. AJ might suspect something though. Adam he\u2019s real smart, like you. If it weren\u2019t for the fact that pa believed that he is the only one who can keep AJ calm he would be here too.\u201d<\/p>\n In the three days they had to wait for further instructions Little Joe, Hoss and Polly all watched as Adam did his best to hold himself together. Polly never told Hoss of how she had come upon Adam when both he and Little Joe had been out picking up some food. She could tell he had been crying and although he had wiped any trace of tears from his face he could not erase the redness from his eyes. She had walked over to him and all he said was what would he do without Storm. She had done the only thing she could think of, she hugged him. From that minute she was convinced that Adam and Hoss were more alike than she had ever thought possible.<\/p>\n Finally on the third day there was a knock on the door and they heard the clerk ask if he could come in. Adam went and opened the door. \u201cDid you get a message?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes it came a few minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho delivered it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome young lady I have never seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d Adam ripped open the envelope and read what was inside.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does it say Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnce I have the money I\u2019m to bring it to a cabin just outside of town. I\u2019ll find Storm there. I\u2019m to leave the money and take Storm. If they think I\u2019ve cheated them they will kill us as we leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam you can\u2019t just walk into a trap like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what do you suggest I do Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou should know by now if I don\u2019t go back with her\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo help me Adam if you say it I will\u2026\u2026Would you really think nothing of deserting our\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Before another word could pass her lips Storm found herself in Adam\u2019s arms \u201cNot that I\u2019m not surprised but just how did you get away?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what you said before I didn\u2019t think you had that much faith in me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen those two men return they are going to be very disappointed when they see I\u2019m no longer the one tied up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer name is Eve. She\u2019s Clive\u2019s girl. At first I thought she might be convinced to help me but I found that was a serious misjudgment on my part. I guess since she believed I was such a fine lady lying trying to mislead her would be against my nature. Maybe she just figured I would be like any other woman like me and would choose to sit back and wait for you to rescue me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no other women like you and the very idea of you sitting and waiting for anything is a completely ridiculous one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe doesn\u2019t know me as well as you do Adam so when I told her I needed to\u2026..well when she untied me I hit her. She wasn\u2019t prepared for that so I hit her again. The next time I hit her it was over the head with the coffee pot. She blacked out and I then proceeded to switch clothes with her and I came here. Before they\u2019d left they had told her to make sure I was tied up real good and to bring that note here. I knew that if I showed up here with her clothes on they wouldn\u2019t suspect anything. Oh Adam we have to get back home! What if they go after\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHush Storm. We\u2019ll send a wire to pa. No one will get near our children. Now do you know where you left this young lady tied up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course but I think they\u2019re probably watching. If I don\u2019t leave soon they\u2019re liable to get suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think I\u2019m going to let you leave this room? Do you think I\u2019d let you walk out of here alone to avoid raising suspicions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I don\u2019t\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. I\u2019m glad we don\u2019t have to argue about it because it would be a short argument that you would end up tied in a chair anyway. Joe will you go and get the sheriff?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Adam. Storm I\u2019m glad your safe.\u201d He kissed her as he passed. \u201cThank you Joe and will you please send that wire to Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing Storm.\u201d For the first time since Adam had pulled her into his arms and the room she looked around and noticed that Polly was there. \u201cPolly? What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t find a way to make her stay behind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault Storm and besides it was kind of fun arguing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss I have always found the making up to be more fun than the arguing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on Hoss, you don\u2019t really believe the reason I argue with your brother is because I enjoy the fighting do you? You will find that once you are married making up is even\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM. Come over here and sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe arrived with the sheriff and Storm explained where the men who had taken her were hiding out. Once she told him the young ladies name he seemed to know where he would find them. When Clive and Martin saw the sheriff going into the hotel with Cartwright they became suspicious. They knew that the money was in the bank because a certain teller there owed them money as well. Clive thought that Eve had betrayed him, that maybe Cartwright\u2019s wife had gotten to her with all her fine words and promises because she sure was spending a lot of time in the hotel. He had decided it would be best for him and Martin to get out of here but first they would go back to the cabin and leave Cartwright a reminder of what the cost of double crossing them was.<\/p>\n When the sheriff and the posse rode back into town it was with two bodies and one very upset young woman. The sheriff had gone and asked Storm if she wouldn\u2019t mind coming to identify the gentlemen and lady as the ones who had taken her.<\/p>\n \u201cYes sheriff those are the gentlemen. I told you Eve that loving him would only bring you grief.\u201d Storm thought long on something. She only hoped that Adam would understand. \u201cSheriff if I don\u2019t press charges\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm! What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Adam I think she has suffered enough. If I don\u2019t press charges sheriff will she go free?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you want to help me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Eve we can\u2019t choose who we love. I will warn you that if you come near my children or husband, if you attempt to do them any harm, I will kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n Eve didn\u2019t doubt that she would. \u201cI have no intentions of coming after you or yours. You weren\u2019t the one\u2019s who killed him.\u201d<\/p>\n They all watched as Eve left. Adam would have argued further if he thought it would have done any good. The only thing he hoped was that Storm would tell him why. \u201cStorm, are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam she only did what she did because he asked her to. She loved him and if you had asked the same of me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou would have told me no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I would do anything you asked of me. It is just my good fortune that you are an amazing man. Not all women can be as lucky as me because not all men can be as wonderful as you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 14<\/strong><\/p>\n June finally arrived and Hoss and Polly were married. The circumstances of this wedding were almost exactly the same as it had been with Adam and Storm\u2019s, except that this time Storm had more than just herself to get ready.<\/p>\n Afterwards Polly went to Storm for a lot of advice which Storm was only to glad to give. Rebecca\u2019s house had been finished and she was happily making it a second home, or maybe third, for Storm and Adam\u2019s children.<\/p>\n On their fourth wedding anniversary Adam and Storm decided to stay home and share the day with their family. Hop-Sing had volunteered to do the cooking so Storm and Polly went to Ben\u2019s house to await their husbands\u2019 arrival.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm would you like me to keep the children here tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that will be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you want to be alone with Adam tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be alone with Adam every night but I\u2019m afraid the damage has already been done Ben. I mean it would be like shutting the corral gate after the horses have already escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n Was she saying what it seemed?<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ben. I am just going to have to learn to say no to that son of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm this is wonderful news.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u00a0would<\/em>\u00a0think so. I\u2019m telling you now Polly this is going to be my last contribution to the Ben Cartwright grandchild club. If there are to be any more they will have to be made by you and whomever Joseph marries.\u201d Storm noticed a very strange expression on Polly\u2019s face. \u201cPolly what\u2019s wrong? I didn\u2019t mean to\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm when is your baby due?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMay. Why Polly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo is your\u2019s? You mean you\u2019re both\u2026at the same time?\u201d They saw Ben fall into a chair.<\/p>\n \u201cBen I hardly think they will be born on the same day. Polly, beginning or end of May?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeginning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee mine isn\u2019t due until the end of the month.\u201d<\/p>\n As his sons arrived home they could only guess at what had Storm and Polly so happy and their father in such a daze. The children were all ready and waiting with their grandfathers and Rebecca. Storm went upstairs and sat on the bed and watched as Adam washed and dressed for dinner. She could hardly believe they had been married for four years. It still made her body tremble to see him undressed.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you so very much.\u201d<\/p>\n He could hear the tears in her voice. Storm couldn\u2019t understand why they were there except to say that when she was with child she did tend to be slightly more emotional then usual.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing, I just do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love you but why are you crying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure everything is okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I\u2019m sure. You know Polly and I realized something today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou and Hoss are alike in more ways than we ever suspected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn what ways?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll find out later. Now hurry up and get dressed. They really can\u2019t start our anniversary dinner without us can they.\u201d<\/p>\n He watched her leave the room. Four years? Had it really been four years? It seemed like only yesterday that she had walked up to him and announced that she could read, only yesterday that he had taken her into his arms and made love to her for the first time. With Storm he found that he was still, even after four years, learning new things about her. He had better stop thinking and finish dressing or he just might not make it to dinner. He found the memories to be more satisfying than any meal could hope to be.<\/p>\n \u201cGood of you to join us son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou will have to admit Ben that it was certainly worth the wait.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy thank you ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa why did you call mama ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I love her AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Hi mama ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you too AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone dinner ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Hop-Sing.\u201d Ben was glad to get this evening started even though he didn\u2019t want it to end. Neither Hoss nor Adam missed the many smiles and glances that passed between Storm and Polly throughout the entire meal. When everyone was done eating Ben prepared to make the announcement he had been appointed to make, actually he had volunteered.<\/p>\n \u201cMay I have everyone\u2019s attention?\u201d Ben waited until everyone was looking towards him. \u201cThere are a few things I wish to say. First I wish to thank Storm for managing to survive another year married to my son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome Adam. Second I would like to thank Polly for accepting the challenge Storm already has and has been able to survive for four years now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks too pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour welcome too Hoss. Third I would like to say it is very good to have both Rebecca and Matt here with us. Now to the most important thing I have to say. I have been given some very interesting information to pass on. I may have had to wait longer than I would have liked, but seeing as to how well it\u2019s turning out I\u2019m no longer too upset by it. I have four wonderful grandchildren and I found out today that come May\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t let his father finish. \u201cPolly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Hoss. We\u2019re going to have a baby.\u201d Everyone got up and went to congratulate Hoss and Polly.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me.\u201d Everyone turned back to Ben. \u201cI wasn\u2019t quite finished.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam I realize that it\u2019s not exactly new for me any more but I was expecting a little\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSTORM?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Adam. It\u2019s just as I told you, you and Hoss are becoming more and more alike.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re telling me that our baby is due in May as well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026\u2026\u201d Something seemed to become very clear to Storm.<\/p>\n \u201cOh it can\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat can\u2019t be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember in July when Hoss was away for ten days in the beginning of the month and then you left for a week at the end of the month?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember it well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I remember well is the night you got back.\u201d One look at Hoss and Polly only confirmed that they too fondly remembered the night of Hoss\u2019s return. \u201cPoor Paul. I think it may be a good idea if maybe we share a room Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it a boy or a girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know we will all just have to wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n As April came the more time Polly did spend with Storm until by the time May arrived it was finally decided that they should indeed stay at least in the same house. It seemed that having Storm near kept in helping Polly stay calm and having Adam near helped to keep Hoss calm as well.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm are you afraid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPolly that\u2019s not a fair question to ask me, remember I\u2019ve been through this before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know but are you afraid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfraid of what Polly? Are you asking me if I\u2019m afraid of dying? No I\u2019m not afraid because if I were to die it would be in giving life to this baby. I may not wish to leave Adam and our children but I wouldn\u2019t be afraid too. Are you afraid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe a little.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright for you to be, like I said I\u2019ve done this before so I kind of know what to expect. I know what the end result will be so after this time next time will be easier for you too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNext time? I can hardly think about this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I can remember the way it was with Benjamin and Elizabeth.\u201d They were sitting there when suddenly Storm saw an expression on Polly\u2019s face. It was one of surprise and pain, and one Storm knew the meaning of only too well. \u201cAnd so it begins Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes I do believe so.\u201d Storm yelled for Ben. He came running from outside where he had been since he had gotten back from dropping his grandchildren off at Rebecca\u2019s house. He would have stayed with her but since he would be the only one here with Storm and Polly he came back besides Matt had promised to stop by Rebecca\u2018s.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it might be a good idea if someone goes and gets Paul.\u201d After helping Polly and Storm upstairs, Ben rode to his sons. Little Joe went for the doc and Hoss and Adam went to their wives. \u201cHoss why don\u2019t you stay with her until Paul gets here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Storm.\u201d You would never have known that Hoss was five years older than Storm by the way he just obeyed her without a second thought. Of course Adam knew that Hoss\u2019s mind was otherwise occupied but even when it wasn\u2019t both he and Little Joe never questioned Storm\u2019s opinions and ideas. Adam walked over to where his wife was sitting.<\/p>\n \u201cStorm how are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine. Will you please help me downstairs so I can sit and wait with the rest of you? I have never been the one sitting and waiting. Polly everything will be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone gathered downstairs to wait for Hoss\u2019s child to be born. Hoss joined them once Paul arrived. Storm was so very glad to see that they were all lost in their concerns for Polly. They were so lost they failed to notice when Storm began to show signs of the pain she had begun to feel. Once they heard the baby\u2019s first cries, they were happy to see Paul appear.<\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations Hoss. It\u2019s a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA boy? How\u2019s Polly?\u201d Hoss was afraid of the answer because he didn\u2019t think he could be as strong as Adam had been if it were bad news.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I go see her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you can Hoss.\u201d Paul glanced over at Storm and could see something was wrong. \u201cHow are you feeling Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine, Paul. Just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Now why don\u2019t the rest of you go and see Polly. I know she\u2019ll want to show her baby off to all of you. It\u2019s one of the most rewarding parts of having a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Storm knew they wouldn\u2019t need too much of a push to go up. She watched them run up the steps. She noticed that Paul had remained behind. \u201cNow back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just didn\u2019t want to make Polly miss her chance to see how it felt to have everyone staring at your baby with so much love. To know that in some small way you had put the joy you see in their faces there. I\u2019m sorry Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry for what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just that you look tired. I promise I won\u2019t take quite as long as Polly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did the pains start Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess almost two hours ago or maybe longer I can\u2018t really be too sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I help you do you think you could make it upstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure I can.\u201d Thankfully, Storm thought, they wouldn\u2019t have to pass by the room Polly was in.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, where is Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably still trying to get out of the chair. I had better go help her.\u201d Adam braced himself for the reprimand he was sure would be coming, and rightfully so. When they had come up he hadn\u2019t even offered to help Storm.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Adam leave her, she\u2019s probably real tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPolly I\u2019m sure she can\u2019t wait to see\u2026.just what is my nephew\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to name him after his father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss Jr?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Joe; Eric Jr.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul had failed in getting Storm upstairs by himself so he went to get some help. No one had noticed he had come back into the room so in an attempt to get Adam\u2019s attention he asked a question fitting the situation. \u201cSo how are you feeling Polly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine Paul. Just fine, although I am a little tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d Paul saw all faces looking at him in surprise. \u201cWhat I mean is that you have done a wonderful job and have every right to be tired. I think you should all go downstairs and let Polly rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaul just where is Storm?\u201d Paul picked up on the subtle tone of concern in Adam\u2019s voice. He had heard it three times before. \u201cShe\u2019s downstairs where you left her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that where she should be Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright! If someone doesn\u2019t come help me get her upstairs your next child will be born on the settee.\u201d Paul had said this with annoyance but not very loudly. He didn\u2019t wish to disturb the baby or Polly who it appeared were beginning to fall asleep. Adam ran out of the room followed closely by Little Joe. If Hoss had heard he probably would have followed but he had been so lost in his son\u2019s eyes that he had heard very little.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul is there something else?\u201d Ben alone saw him hold up two fingers. He walked over to where Paul was standing and talked low enough so that Hoss and Polly couldn\u2018t hear them.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul are you saying it\u2019s twins?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ben. She didn\u2019t\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant Adam to worry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes and she didn\u2019t want for you to have to keep the secret. She\u2019s going to tell him now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Paul heard Little Joe and Adam as they helped Storm up the stairs. They could hear them in the hall and making their way into the bedroom.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe go and get Paul, tell him she\u2019s upstairs.\u201d Adam turned to Storm as Joe walked out. \u201cWhen did this start?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout two hours ago. Don\u2019t be angry.\u201d She wouldn\u2019t dare tell Adam it might have been longer than two.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not. I guess eventually you would have had to say something. I\u2019m sorry I should have known.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mean to not be angry that I didn\u2019t tell you that it was time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs there something else you haven\u2019t told me?\u201d He looked at her face and knew. \u201cStorm are you trying to tell me it\u2019s twins?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said I should tell you; you didn\u2019t specify when.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm. So help me.\u201d She watched as he released a very deep breath. \u201cBecause I love you and that means I could use all the help I can get.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I don\u2019t know Adam you seem to love me quite well without any help at all. Does this mean you\u2019re not angry?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Storm I\u2019m not angry. So we\u2019re going to have two more. That means that we\u2019ll have six. Six? Six!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust keep on saying it!\u201d Ben and Paul had come into the room unnoticed.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa it\u2019s twins.\u201d Ben found himself smiling at the disbelief in his son\u2019s voice as he made this declaration<\/p>\n \u201cYes Paul just informed me of that. Maybe he needs Rebecca\u2019s help. Maybe Hop-Sing wouldn\u2019t mind going to\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stopped short upon hearing Storm\u2019s muffled yell. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Ben but I don\u2019t think there is enough time for that. Paul if you need any help you\u2019ll have to settle for Adam\u2019s\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMINE?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes yours, you are my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBen take your sons downstairs. If I should need any help I\u2019ll call.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss had sat with Polly until both she and the baby were asleep. He still hadn\u2019t been told that Storm was having her babies as well. He had noticed she wasn\u2019t with the others but had assumed she had just been tired and gone to sleep. Paul\u2019s absence wasn\u2019t questioned as he figured he had just gone back to town.<\/p>\n \u201cYes Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure glad that Polly only had one baby, I mean I was so worried with her just having one I hate to think how much worse it would have been if she\u2026.\u201d The odd way in which Adam was looking at him made Hoss stop. \u201cIs something wrong? Adam? Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Hoss nothing is wrong it would seem as if I am going to be blessed to welcome three more grandchildren today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean Storm is\u2026.you mean she\u2019s having twins?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it would seem. The realization of what he had said earlier hit him even harder than when he had said it. His father and brothers watched Adam do something he had never done while waiting for his child to be born; he sat down. They heard him say something but weren\u2019t quite too sure of what it had been. \u201cSon what did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix pa, I have six children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes you will. Joe why don\u2019t you go and get the brandy I think we could all use a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n True to her word Storm didn\u2019t take as long as Polly and an hour and a half later they heard each baby\u2019s cry. Although Adam would have gone to help Paul he was so very glad that didn\u2019t prove to be necessary. Paul came downstairs and found himself facing three very concerned faces. \u201cPaul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s fine Adam. I would think that by now you would know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe babies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnother son and another daughter. Why don\u2019t you go on up and see for yourself.\u201d As Adam made his way upstairs he heard his father offer Paul some of the brandy, stating that it he had had a very long night.<\/p>\n \u201cHey there beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy hello there handsome. Why don\u2019t you come closer and see the newest additions to our wonderful family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re perfect Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes they are. Adam if I tell you something will you try not to get angry?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAngry? Why is it you always ask me not to be angry when there is no possible way for me to be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam this is different. This is\u2026..Marinda asked me once if I wasn\u2019t glad Emily had died, and I\u2019m not Adam really I\u2019m not. It\u2019s just that sometimes\u2026.well sometimes I am thankful that she died. I love you so much and I love AJ so much. I promised Emily I would be the best mother I could to AJ, the best wife I could be to you, as a sort of a way to try and apologize for feeling that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart you have most definitely succeeded in doing that. Now just what are we going to call these two?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say you like them if you don\u2019t. If you like other names better it\u2019s alright with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we call our new son Chase Zachariah? Chase because I feel as if I finally have everything I have ever chased after. Zachariah, well just because I like the way it sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I like the name and the reasons for them. Now how about our daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell you the names but the reasons for them I think you will know by yourself. I would like to call her Emily Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n The following day Polly was surprised to learn that Storm had not only had her baby but that it was twins. She couldn\u2019t believe that Storm had kept that from her but than thought that of course Storm would keep it from her for the same reason she had kept it from Adam. AJ and his siblings were happy to learn the same even happier to see that their mother was alright.<\/p>\n EPILOGUE <\/strong><\/p>\n One day Adam came home to find his father sitting on the floor surrounded by his seven grandchildren. He couldn\u2019t ever remember seeing him so happy. He could hear Polly and Storm in the kitchen talking to Rebecca as they set about preparing lunch for him and his brothers, who would be joining them shortly. Little Joe had indeed begun to seriously think about finding that woman who would be willing to marry him. So seriously that he had told he and Hoss earlier that he might have found her.<\/p>\n As for Storm\u2019s wishes for Ben and Rebecca that was not a topic that Adam felt comfortable discussing with his father but going on what it appeared to be she just might be proven right in that as well. \u201cPa would you like some help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot one fingers worth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll go in and see if maybe Storm could use my help.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched his son as he made his way into the kitchen. \u201cAdam who would have believed that little four year old spitfire would do all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot me pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know pa, I know.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam did. He could see it in his father\u2019s eyes. He could see love, pride and so much more. He knew without being told because it was everything he himself felt when he looked at his children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The Special Rope <\/a>
\n<\/a>Foolish Questions<\/a>
\nAnte Up<\/a>
\nLove Lost, Destiny Found<\/a><\/p>\n