The Crush chapter 1
Jane watched the field entrance like they told her. No one had come or gone all morning. A lot of nonsense this, she slouched against the wall. This was about the dumbest idea Emma Jackson ever had. Even if Joe Cartwright was working on the hay bails behind the house there was no guarantee he would have his shirt off. There was no way Emma saw him without his shirt like she said and even if she did, dragging her friends out here was foolhardy to say the least. If they were caught out here they would all get the tanning of their lives.
~o~
Jane herself hadn't been punished like that since she was little. There was no need. Up to now she had led a quiet, some would say boring life.
'That all changed today' she sighed shuffling slightly into a more comfortable stance and eyeing the field entrance. A sudden scream from her friends startled her and she whirled around just in time to see the three girls race towards their horses. Her eyes grew wider and she gasped as she noted the large man shewing them like scattered chickens. In panic she realised that she must scarper too. She turned to run and ran smack into one of Joes older brothers scattering the wood he had collected. She backed away muttering a hurried apology about the wood now scattered all around. She took off to run towards the fields but was soon scooped up and carried in the other direction. Adam put her down but kept a firm hold of her arm unwilling to have a child scampering across the fields during branding season.
"They took your horse with them" Adam sighed exasperated as he led her to the field behind the house.
"Idiots took your horse with them" Muttering oaths under his breath, Adam led her back towards the main house.
"Have you girls nothing better to do, a ranch can be a dangerous place" he told her.
The only Cartwright the girls knew was little Joe and he was no where in sight. Janes bottom lip began to tremble as tears filled her eyes. Adam heard her sniff and digging into his pocket for a handkerchief he held it to her nose as if she was little Joe ten years ago.
"Blow" he told her.
She did so feeling suddenly embarrassed. He shook his head slightly as she tried to hand the handkerchief back to him.
~o~
Adams tone softened somewhat as he led her into the house.
"Alright you sit here for a minute. I've to get some papers and then I'll drive you home" he told her. Ben looked up from his paper as Adam put her sitting on the couch.
"She was looking for Joe" Adam told him before he could ask.
"Did you come out here by yourself young lady" Ben asked rather sternly. Emma and her friends sneaking around the ranch was becoming an annoying habit.
"No sir I was with friends" she lowered her head wanting the ground to swallow her as another man came out from the kitchen.
"You alright missy, ol Adam didn't scare ye none did he" Hoss asked.
"No sir" she lied.
"You look like you bin cryin, he didn't put you over his knee did he?".
Janes eyes grey wide.
"Hoss" Ben chuckled "can't you see she's scared enough. Do you want some lemonade sweetheart" Ben asked gently.
"No thank you sir" she said eyeing the stairs willing the other man to come back.
Adam bounded down the stairs minutes later.
"Pa I'm going to the mercantile, do you want anything" he asked.
"Oh Adam. I need some liquorice and some corn balls".
"Aw Hoss I'm not buying candy, that's embarrassing come on".
"Oh just tell Anna it's for me, she knows what I like. Please?" Hoss did his best puppy dog expression. Notably not as good as Joes.
Jane suddenly piped up "I can get it, I know liquorice and corn balls" she said.
"You're in enough trouble young lady. Go wait for me in the barn" Adam told her.
Janes eyes grew wide as she stepped around the couch and slowly headed out the door.
"Strange kid" Adam muttered as he watched her go.
"Adam can you get me some tobacco" Ben asked.
"Tobacco, liquorice, corn balls" Adam muttered to himself as he grabbed his jacket.
Jane stood abruptly as he entered, her cheeks flaming red.
"You can't do this, you're not my pa" She told him.
"I can't do what, come on I haven't all day" he took hold of her to lift her up to the carriage. Her startled Yelp drew his hands back from her.
"Well, why don't you get up on the carriage yourself then" he told her feeling suddenly awkward and wondering should he let Hoss take over.
"Oh I thought..." She stopped suddenly realising how ridiculous that was.
"You thought what" he asked, his dark eyes narrowing in concern.
"I thought you were going to take me over your knee".
"What, why would I do that" Adam asked.
"For trespassing" she told him as he helped her up onto the carriage "It was something your brother said made me think".
"I never spanked a girl in my life" Adam told her, conveniently forgetting the girl who broke his prize guitar all the way from New York.
~o~
They drove in silence for some time. The sun was low in the sky but it was still pleasantly warm.
"You gonna tell my ma" Jane suddenly asked.
"Nope, not this time" Adam said.
"Thanks" she muttered looking down at her hands.
"Though I should" Adam looked directly at her.
"Heed my words Kid, you girls are going to get yourselves in a whole heap of trouble. Joe is too old for you. How old are you anyway, twelve, thirteen?".
"I'm fourteen" she looked directly at him, somewhat affronted.
"Well excuse me, you're practically middle aged" he gave her a dimpled smile.
"I'm old enough to have youngins" she told him.
Adams smile disappeared and he was stern.
"Now none of that talk, your momma wouldn't want you talking like that" he told her.
Jane lowered her head, she knew he was right.
"Sorry sir" she muttered.
Adam smiled again and at that moment he pitied any man who had a daughter to bring up in this wild place.
~o~
"Well this is your place I believe" he said pulling the carriage to a halt.
The door cracked open and Janes mother appeared wiping her hands on her apron.
"Mr Cartwright, is everything alright" she asked.
Before Adam could answer Jane herself spoke up.
"We were over on his ranch looking for Joe" she told her mother.
"Were you with that Emma Jackson?" her mother asked her mouth set in a tight line.
Jane nodded "Sorry momma"
"Go in the house, we'll talk about it later" she told her.
With Adams hand on her arm she clambered down from the carriage.
"Thank the gentleman Jane".
"Thanks Adam" Jane smiled up at him.
"Thank you Mr Cartwright" her mother corrected sternly.
"Thank you Mr Cartwright" Jane repeated before heading to their quaint wooden cottage.
"I'm sorry, she's a good girl really. It's just lately she gets such notions in her head" Janes mother smiled up at him.
"We were all young once" Adam smiled.
"I'll make sure she doesn't bother you again" she said.
"You know, at least she was honest about it" Adam said "she came clean, don't be too hard on her".
She smiled then "won't you come in, I've just made some coffee".
"I can't, I'm sorry. I have to make the bank before it closes".
Janes mother nodded "another time perhaps".
Adam tipped his hat and smiled before pulling the team out into the road and setting off again.
That night Jane stared out at the stars. The rest of the evening had gone by in a haze. Now she lay sleepless staring out at the night sky. She didn't hear her mothers words, she barely felt the tanning, she couldn't eat her supper. All she could think about was Adam Cartwright.