Chapter One
It had been a long, frustrating day at the lumber camp, and now he'd been caught out in a storm that had hit without notice or not much of one anyway. It was all Adam could do not to let out a string of cuss words as he looked around for cover. It didn't take long for him to see what he was hoping to see…the small house he and his brothers had built for such an emergency, along with the small shelter they'd built for their horses. A clap of thunder yelled hello, as Adam jumped off his horse and then led Sport into the shelter. "Well, boy," Adam said as he put his horse into one of two stalls that were in the shelter, "looks like we're stuck here until the rain stops." As Adam ran out of the shelter and towards the house, he prayed his father and brothers wouldn't worry too much when he didn't show up on time.
As he ran up the sturdy, wooden brown steps that led to the porch and front door of the house, Adam was shocked to hear the sound of rocking chair going back and forth, a baby crying softly and a woman singing gently. While he had put Marie's old rocking chair in the house, Adam wondered when someone had moved in the house he and his brothers had built. Even though he was sure they had squatters on the land and, as a part owner of the Ponderosa; his father had just made that one legal, he had every right to simply go in…Adam knocked instead. He had no reason to want to start out on the wrong foot with whoever was inside.
Adam heard the rocking stop and waited. When no one answered, Adam knocked again. This time he heard footsteps and slowly the door opened just wide enough for the woman who opened the door to see who was on the other side. He had to fight to keep from staring at the beautiful young woman before him. She stood roughly five feet four inches, had the blackest hair and brownest eyes he'd ever seen. While her skin was pure white, he couldn't help, but wonder if she had some Indian blood in her as her cheek bones indicated the sharp angles on the Native Americans he knew.
"May I help you?" the woman opened the door wider, as she felt pity for the man who was drenched from head to toe.
Adam decided not to press the issue that she was in a house that didn't belong to her or that she was trespassing for the moment. After all, there was always a chance he was wrong on both accounts. It's not like he and his family had had much chance to communicate the past two weeks. Maybe they'd consented to let this family move in while he was away. "I need shelter until the rain is over. I didn't know this small home had occupants. May I come in? I promise," he said as he smiled wide, "I won't harm you or your family in anyway. Though, I would like to know your name." He figured he could ask that one first and then glean information for her as they talked.
The woman hesitated, as she glanced toward the bedroom, in which Adam assumed her husband was in, and then back to Adam. The dimples that appeared at the corners of his mouth as he smiled reached out and grabbed her. She stepped aside and replied, "Come on in, my name is Sadie. Though, you should know it's just me and my baby son. My husband is dead."
Adam couldn't help but frown, as he stepped far enough inside as to allow the young widow to shut the door. "Thank you." He walked over t the fireplace and sat down on the fireplace hearth, rubbing his hands together as he did so. "How long have you lived here? May I ask?" He kept his eyes on his unexpected host as she did him.
Adam watched, as Sadie put her hands on her hips and fidgeted a bit. Adam couldn't help but wonder if he was wrong when he wondered if his father and brothers had let the woman move in. Finally she sighed and answered him. "This isn't my house, sir. I, like you was chased into it due to the storm. I don't know who owns it. Though, I'm going to have to replace the little food I ate, but I had no choice. My son is not that old and depends on me to provide him milk to drink."
Adam felt his heart go out to the woman before him, especially since he guessed she had to be an awfully young mother. Unless she was one of those woman who looked years younger than she was, she couldn't be a day over twenty. He smiled again and introduced himself. "My name is Adam Cartwright. My father and I both own this land, and my brothers help us run it. Don't worry about the food, you're welcome to it. Though," he said as he couldn't help but chuckle at the shocked look that came upon Sadie's face, "I would like to know what such a beautiful young widow and her infant son are doing out in the middle of the Ponderosa." He looked towards the window where he could see the rain coming down in bucketfuls.
Sadie eyes widened, and then sat down a few feet away from him. She clasped her hands together and stared into the fire she'd built using wood that had been on the back porch, protected by a tarp and the awning that hung over the porch. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The very person she had been looking for was right in the room with her. It was too good to be true. "My husband died while I was only four months a long." Sadie began talking. "My in laws never approved of me as my mother was a Cherokee Indian and only took me in out of 'duty to their son'." She sighed again. "As I grew closer to delivering my son I came to realize that if they could?" She turned her face and looked at Adam, "They would take him away from me. So, one night, shortly before my son was born, I snuck away with the help of a dear friend. I gave birth to my son in her grandparent's home. Afterwards, I insisted on leaving knowing my in laws would be looking for me." She turned back to look at the fire. "I had been given enough money and food to last me quite a spell." She then paused and decided it was best that she see if Adam remembered her late husband before she told him the rest of the story, "Do you remember a man by the name of Robert Waters?"
Now it was Adam's turn to stare. Robert Waters had been a dear friend of his during his college years. They'd written back and forth a number of times afterwards. One of the letters had mentioned he was in hot water with his parents because he was looking at courting a half breed. When the letters had stopped, and his letters returned, Adam knew something was up, but he didn't know what. To hear that Robert had actually passed away was unnerving as the man would have only been thirty three if he was living.
"What's your son's name?" Adam asked when he heard the child begin to cry from the other room and Sadie stood up.
She smiled as she headed for the room. "Robert Adam Waters, it's the name my husband requested when I told him I was going to have a baby, but I call him Bob."
Adam stiffened as he recalled a conversation he and Robert had had shortly before he, Adam, had returned home.
"If I ever marry and have a son, he'll bear your name, Adam. You're the best friend a man could ever have. Though, if my wife and child or children ever need someone to watch over them, may I send them your way?" Robert stood in their college dorm room looking at Adam. It was a request that Adam had assured him would be fulfilled if needed.
With the memory came a realization, he had a promise to fulfill.
