WARNING:

The following story contains: Non-Cannon Elements, Hard to believe Plot Devices, Cruelty to a Beloved Character, Possible Line Recycling, and Run on Sentences.

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The Terrible Fate of Adam Cartwright

by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Dameron

Chapter One

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Adam Cartwright coughed once more for the doctor and was beginning to feel more annoyed with each time he was asked. He'd been sitting on his bed with his shirt off long enough for the stethoscope to actually grow warm. He pushed the old doctor away, "Either tell me what you are fussing on about or leave me be." Adam stood and put his shirt on then began to button it.

Dr. James Brown cleared his throat and put the stethoscope back in his bag then looked to Adam's father Ben who sat in a chair near by. He then pulled a letter from his coat pocket. "Do you remember this letter that Dr. Stone in Salt Flats gave you to give to me Ben."

"I do recall giving you a sealed envelope that he said was personal James." Ben said with a lifted eyebrow.

"He didn't want to worry you at the time but he though you and Adam should know that he heard what we call a murmur while listening to his heart."

Ben frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means that there is damage to one of the valves in his heart." Dr. Brown began. "The stress of his ordeal in the desert either caused it or made it worse enough that we could detect it." He put the envelope back in his pocket. "It might get less audible over the next while, but the damage will get worse as time goes on."

"Worse enough to end my life?" Adam asked with a serious face.

"Eventually maybe," Brown said, "you'll want to have a doctor take a listen every so often to make sure it's not getting worse and you might require medicine if you develop any worse symptoms."

"What kind of symptoms might he develop?" Ben asked with a little more worry.

"Chest pains with a rapid heart beat, episodes where he can't seem to get warm during a cold spell even though everyone else is just fine or fainting spells." the doctor said as he made sure the contents of his bag were just right and sealed the clasp. "They could show up from time to time, become chronic or never appear at all as Adam grows to a ripe old age." He turned to face Adam. "Just be mindful that if they ever happen you need to see a doctor."

Adam sat back down on his bed and intertwined his fingers so he could force himself not to fidget. After what had happened on his way back from Yuma his father was bound to worry himself over the slightest thing. And like the doctor said, he might never suffer more symptoms.

The doctor picked up his bag and headed for the door of the room. "You should take it easy for one more week, but then you should be able to ride a horse again or do anything your Pa needs done around here."

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Ben could not help but watch Adam as he lay napping on the couch. Adam was not one to waste daylight sleeping but in the time since returning from the Clinic in Salt Flats he had taken to having a short nap after lunch. Part of it was that Adam was still rebuilding his strength and part of it was that he did not sleep well at night.

Ben had heard Adam call out at Kane for some reason or other most nights since finding him in the desert. Some nights he called for his brothers or for Ben but when they came to help him the first few times he had denied doing any such thing and sent whoever came to his room back to bed. Yet aside from his statement to the Sheriff in Salt Flats he had refused to talk about what happened.

What Doc Brown had said did not help Ben one bit. He looked at where the sores on Adam's feet had been then to the shoulders that had bared the weight of a man who didn't deserve to live. A man like Adam needed a strong heart, and Ben had trouble baring the thought that Adam's heart might give out before he was ready to leave this world. Even if that was long after Ben himself had left this life too.

He reached down to straiten the blanket Adam was using only to hear Adam speak. "Don't you have something better to do then fuss and worry over me Pa?"

Ben straightened the blanket despite Adam's protest. "Not at just this moment."

Adam opened his eyes. "Kindly find something." he closed his eyes again but he hoped his message was clear.

Ben walked over to his desk and took a seat. Despite Adam's protests he was still worried about his son. The Adam he had sent to Yuma would not have used such a tone with him.

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(If you think I'm shoveling it on, wait a few chapters.)