Regions Hitherto Unexplored

Book 12 of A HOUSE UNITED series

By Sarah Hendess

Ponderosa Ranch
Nevada Territory
Late July, 1864

Two days after the run-in with the rustlers, the Cartwrights rode out to the Lucky Star Ranch for Simon Croft's funeral. The pain in Adam's arm had faded to an ache, and after a day's rest, he no longer felt dizzy when he stood up. Josie had tried to persuade him and Molly to stay at Ben's house a second night, but Adam was eager to get home and celebrate Molly's pregnancy before they revealed it to the family. Molly had intended to ask Josie to examine her while the ladies scrubbed up her clinic, but Josie had been so visibly shaken by Adam and Fionn's close call and the loss of Simon and that she had decided not to jar the young physician further.

Josie's stomach churned now as she sat beside Little Joe in the back of Ben's surrey as it rolled down the road toward the Crofts' ranch. Hannah sat in the front seat beside her brother-in-law, all four of the Cartwrights dressed in their Sunday best. No one spoke on the drive, all of them too consumed with their own grief to converse. Ben ached for Simon's father and tried not to think about how close he had come to burying his own son. Little Joe mourned the loss of a childhood friend. Hannah lamented the loss of such a promising young man and, like Ben, shuddered at how they could have lost Adam, whom she viewed as a son. Josie was such a jumble of emotions that she hadn't slept or eaten well the past two days. The death of the first man she'd loved had left an aching hole deep in her belly. Mourning Simon so deeply left her feeling guilty because it seemed disloyal to Fionn, but being relieved that Fionn was all right felt awful, too, since Simon had died to save him. She wished she could talk it all over with Adam, but she hadn't wanted to bother him. He'd seemed preoccupied with something, and it was more important that he rest. Instead, she'd stuck close to Little Joe, who, unlike her mother and uncle, asked no prying questions. He just put an arm around her shoulders and let her snuggle up next to him whenever she wanted. She glanced over her shoulder now to check that Pip was still following along behind the carriage. Adam had told her how Pip and Conall had taken out the man who shot Simon, and Josie had kept her wolfhound even closer to her ever since.

A small crowd had already gathered at the little graveyard on the Crofts' property by the time Ben rolled the surrey to a stop. Hoss and Patience were among the group that included Will and Sally Cass, Doctor Martin, the Marquettes, Simon and Joe's friend Mitch Vogel, and the Lovejoys. Adam and Molly arrived as Ben and Little Joe helped Hannah and Josie out of the surrey, and Fionn rode up shortly thereafter with Conall beside him. Simon's sister, Rebecca, and her new husband, Thomas Billings, helped Simon's mother, Mary, greet their guests. Peter Croft stood a ways off with his back to the group and his hand resting on a plain wooden coffin that sat next to freshly dug grave. After greeting the ladies and Tom, Ben ambled over to Peter and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Thank you for coming, Josie," Mary said, giving her a quick hug, her dress crunching softly under the weight of its fresh black dye. "You meant so much to Simon."

Josie reddened, unsure how to respond to the mother of the young man whose heart she'd broken. Her awkwardness was nothing compared to Fionn's, however. Fionn had ridden over to the Lucky Star with Ben yesterday to return the Crofts' stolen cattle, but clearly he hadn't encountered Rebecca or Mary on that visit. He clasped Mary's hand and swallowed hard.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," he stammered. "I never expected him to- I mean, if I could have-"

Tears spilled from Mary's eyes, and she patted Fionn's cheek. "It wasn't your fault. Promise me you won't feel guilty."

"Yes, ma'am." Fionn took a quick step backward to let Hannah greet Mary, and for a moment, Josie thought he might jump back on his mare and flee for home. But Reverend Lovejoy stepped up just then, diverting everyone's attention.

"Mrs. Croft? If you're not expecting anyone else, we'll get started."

Mary glanced around at the assemblage. "I think this is it. Let's get this over with." She took Rebecca's hand and led everyone over to the yawning grave.

Josie reached out and took Fionn's hand. He looked over his shoulder and gave her a sad smile. Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, he allowed Josie to lead him toward the grave. But when they reached the back of the group, Fionn stopped.

"You should be up front with your family," he muttered.

"So let's go."

Fionn shook his head. "We don't need to rub Simon's broken heart in his family's face at his funeral. I'll stay back here."

Josie hesitated, but Fionn dropped her hand and gave her a gentle nudge toward her family. She and Pip trudged forward and stood between her mother and Adam. Molly looked over at her and then back and Fionn, now alone except for Conall, at the back of the group. She pecked Adam on the cheek and slipped to the back to stand with her brother.

Adam leaned down and kissed the top of Josie's head before taking her hand. Josie clutched Adam's hand throughout the brief service, letting go only when it was time to lay Simon to rest alongside his paternal grandfather and a stillborn brother. She stared unblinkingly as Joe, Hoss, and Ben helped Peter Croft lower her first love into his grave. A pit settled heavily in her stomach as the first shovelful of dirt thumped dully on the wooden box. Hannah wiped a tear from Josie's cheek and put her around her shoulders.

When the coffin lay under its mound of dirt, Reverend Lovejoy said a final prayer and asked everyone to please join the family in the house for lunch. Everyone but Peter Croft began a silent march to the house. Peter sank to his knees beside his son's grave, laid a hand on the fresh earth, and broke into bone-rattling sobs. Josie, who had been fighting a rising lump in her throat since leaving home that morning, could bear it no longer and began weeping softly into a handkerchief. Adam grabbed her hand and led her toward the house. She cast a last look over her shoulder at Simon's grave, where Ben, who understood loss all too well, sat in the dirt next to Peter and draped his arm across the keening man's shoulders.

As they approached the house, Josie looked around for Fionn and spotted him unwrapping his mare's reins from the hitching post. She shot a questioning look up at Adam, who shrugged. She dropped her cousin's hand and scurried over to Fionn.

"Didn't you hear Reverend Lovejoy?" she asked. "We're supposed to go inside for lunch. Mrs. Croft and Rebecca will have gone to a lot of trouble." Josie had always thought it ridiculous that the grieving family was expected to feed everyone who attended the funeral. After her grandfather Stoddard's funeral when she was six years old, it seemed half of Boston had descended on Aunt Rachel's house. Aunt Rachel, at least, had been able to have lunch catered – an option not available to a family of ranchers in Nevada.

Fionn shook his head. "This may not have been my fault, but I can't eat their food."

"I understand." She took his hand and traced the veins on the back with one finger. "I'm sure you're busy, but I thought maybe I'd ride over tomorrow. Bring you lunch."

"I'm ridin' out to Carson City tomorrow. Plannin' to spend the night there and come home day after."

Josie's stomach clenched. Watching Fionn leave the Ponderosa the previous morning had been agonizing, and she hadn't relaxed until she saw him ride up this morning. She clutched his hand.

"Do you have to go?"

Fionn kissed her forehead. "Aye. More than you know. But I'll stop and kiss you goodbye on me way out. Got to drop somethin' off for your uncle anyway."

This was all very cryptic, and Josie wanted to press for his reasons for traveling to Carson City and what he could possibly have to give to Ben, but she decided not to push. Everyone had had a difficult couple of days, and they were all a bit off.

"All right. I love you so much."

"Good." Fionn grinned, a flash of his usual mischievous self returning to his face. "I love you, too, a chuisle. I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her and swung onto his horse. With a final tip of his hat, he rode off.

Josie watched him ride away, her stomach churning. She wished she could talk him out of going to Carson City. She nearly sent Pip after him, but Adam called her name. She turned and saw him waving to her from the Crofts' front porch. He'd taken his injured arm out of its sling but held it close to his body. The door behind him was draped in black crepe. Josie took a last look down the road after Fionn and then turned and headed for the house.

The inside of the Crofts' home was also draped in black, and Josie knew if she ventured upstairs to Simon's room, it, too, would be shrouded in dark fabric. Mary and Rebecca had laid out a huge spread, but Josie only picked at a tiny serving of ham and potatoes. Josie sat on Adam's left, and while his wounded arm wouldn't tolerate being wrapped around her shoulders, he rested his hand on her knee for the duration of the meal. Its warm weight calmed her somewhat, but she knew she wouldn't settle entirely until she was with Fionn again.

After the solemn meal, Adam caught his father's eye, and Ben nodded in understanding: It was time to get Josie home. The Cartwrights said their goodbyes to the Crofts and the other guests and hustled out the door to head back to the Ponderosa.

Josie caught Adam before he and Molly boarded their wagon.

"Let me see your arm before you go."

Adam glanced around at the guests trickling out of the house. "Josie, not in the middle of the yard." He'd have to take off both his jacket and his shirt to show Josie his injury. Josie frowned and reached for Adam's shirt buttons. Adam stepped back. "I promise it's all right. It hardly hurts at all."

Molly stepped forward and laid a hand on Josie's arm. "I've been changing the bandage and cleanin' it twice a day like you said. The redness is already startin' to go down."

"All right," Josie conceded. "But come by the clinic in two days so I can take the stitches out."

"I will," Adam promised. He caressed her cheek. "Hey, I know Patience was going to stay with you at Pa's while Hoss is away on the cattle drive, but I was thinking that since Pa and Little Joe are both going to be gone, too, why don't all you ladies come stay at my place? You can try out that guestroom I built for you."

Josie smiled. "You mean it?"

"Absolutely."

"Thanks, Adam." She stretched up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I'll look forward to it. And I'll see you in two days."

"Yes, ma'am." Adam gave her a quick hug and then helped Molly into the wagon.

"That was nice of you," Molly said as they rolled down the road toward home.

Adam shrugged. "Gotta look out for her. She knows too many of my secrets."

Molly giggled and laid her head on Adam's shoulder.

Josie and Pip were waiting on the front porch the next morning just after breakfast when Fionn rolled up in his wagon, his gray mare tied to the back.

"Hey, You!" he called, raising a hand.

Josie sprang from her rocking chair and rushed over to him.

"Why did you bring the lambs?" she asked, peering into the back of the wagon at the three little sheep she didn't know Fionn had sold to Ben. "Are you taking them to Carson City?"

Fionn jumped down from the wagon seat. "They're for your uncle. Good mornin', Mr. Cartwright!"

Josie looked back at the porch and saw Ben ambling over to them.

"Morning, Fionn! Those my lambs?"

"Yes, sir."

"Let's take them over to the barn. I cleared out a stall until I can build a little pen."

Josie skipped along behind the men as they carried the lambs to the barn.

"Uncle Ben, why did you buy some of his lambs? I thought you didn't like sheep."

"They're for your mother," Ben answered without looking back at her. "You've got Pip. I thought she might like some animals of her own to care for."

Josie grabbed his elbow. "You're up to something."

"My boys had to learn it somewhere." He gently shook free of Josie's grip and continued to the barn. He and Fionn settled the lambs in the empty stall and returned to the yard.

"Fionn, I thought you were looking forward to getting wool from these lambs," Josie pressed. "Why would you sell them? And why only three of them?"

Fionn ignored her. "Mr. Cartwright, would it be all right if I left me wagon and team here? It'll be faster goin' with just Maeve." He gestured to his dapple mare. "I can pick them up tomorrow."

"Of course, son." Ben shook Fionn's hand. "Have a safe trip, and we'll see you tomorrow." He lumbered back to the house, leaving Fionn and Josie alone in the yard.

Fionn turned to Josie, snagged her around the waist, and spun her in a circle. "I'll see you tomorrow, too, Hey, You." He planted a big kiss on her lips.

Josie caressed his cheek. "Take Pip. He'll enjoy the trip."

Fionn looked down at the wolfhound. "What d'ya say, Pip? Want to come along with Conall and me?" Pip barked and wagged his tail. "Sounds like a yes if I ever heard one." He kissed Josie again. "We'll be safe, I promise. And I'll count the hours until I'm back here with you."

Josie smiled, and Fionn mounted up on Maeve. Whistling to Conall, he turned and rode out of the yard.

"Go with Fionn, Pip!" Josie commanded. Pip barked again and trotted after Fionn and Conall. Josie's stomach fluttered, but seeing Pip go after him settled her a little, and she turned and went back inside.

Adam and Molly showed up at Ben's house just after breakfast the next morning. Molly had been a little queasy since waking up, but Adam was so antsy to get his stitches out that she'd smiled and said yes when he asked if she was ready to go. When they stepped through Ben's front door, Josie leapt from her seat on the settee and launched herself at Adam, stopping just short of flinging her arms around his stitched-up left bicep.

"Geez, Adam, I haven't even opened my clinic yet!" she said.

"I couldn't wait. These stitches are really starting to itch."

Josie grinned. "That happens. Come on, let's go over to the clinic. I left my bag out there last night."

Adam took one of Josie's hands and one of Molly's, and together, the trio made their way across the yard to Josie's clinic. When they arrived, Adam sat down in a chair in the main room and pulled off his shirt. To his delight, Josie was much more adept at removing stitches than Hoss was. Hoss meant well, but he tugged too hard. Under Josie's thin, nimble fingers, Adam didn't even feel the stitches slide out of his skin.

"That looks good," Josie said, inspecting the healing wound. "Be careful with it for a few more days, but I think you're pretty well mended. It'll be an interesting scar."

Adam kissed her cheeks. "Thanks, kid." He caught Molly's eye and smiled. "I think Molly could use some of your attention, too."

Josie's eyes went wide. "Are you feeling ill?"

"A little," Molly said with a shy smile.

"Come on, then." She grabbed Molly's hand and dragged her into an exam room, leaving Adam alone in the front room. He grinned and began counting slowly under his breath. He'd made it only to five when he heard Josie's shriek through the door. He didn't even have time to chuckle before Josie burst back into the front room and tackled him. If Adam's chair hadn't been against a wall, he and Josie would have crashed to the floor. She screamed something that sounded vaguely like "congratulations" and wrapped her arms so tightly around his neck she nearly choked him. Adam prized her arms from his throat.

"Don't kill me before the baby gets here," he chuckled.

Josie let go of him, and they both stood up. "Sorry." She swiped a lock of hair from her shining eyes. "I can't believe this! Well, I mean, I can, but you know what I mean."

Adam laughed and pulled her into a proper hug. "No one else knows yet. Not even Pa or Fionn. We wanted to tell you first."

Josie beamed. "Fionn's coming by later on his way home from Carson City. It's going to be hard not to tell him."

"Adam," Molly spoke up, "d'ya think Hop Sing would mind cookin' a big dinner tonight? We could come back this evenin' and tell everyone at once."

"I bet he wouldn't," Adam said. "And I could ride over to Hoss's and tell him and Patience to be here for supper."

Josie danced around the room and hugged both Molly and Adam yet again. "I can't wait!" Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "By the way, based on what Molly's told me about her cycle, your baby was probably conceived on your wedding night. Well done, Adam." She shook his hand.

Adam laughed. "I do love precision. You go tell Hop Sing about dinner, and we'll get out of here and stop at Hoss's on the way home." He kissed her forehead.

"All right. That'll be two dollars, by the way."

"Two dollars? For telling Hop Sing about dinner?"

"For the stitches, you fool."

Adam's jaw dropped. "You're charging me?"

"I have to make a living, too, you know. It's a dollar-fifty for the stitches and fifty cents to take them out." She held out her hand. "Pay up."

Molly laughed as Adam dug into his pocket and extracted two silver dollars, which he pressed into Josie's waiting palm.

"Thief," he grumbled.

Josie giggled and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Cousin-Cousin. See you at dinner!"

Still grumbling, Adam escorted his still-laughing wife out the door.