Telegrams.
5th story in the Alexandra Series.
Summary: You wanted to know the why, the when and the how Alexandra came about. Well here it is. Adam receives a wire from San Francisco. He embarks on a journey with Alexandra to bring Katherine home one way or another. He recalls the events of the past along the way.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza, or any of its characters. David Dortort and Fred Hamilton created them and played with them for 14 years. The series is owned by NBC.
Guns and Switches re-cap.
During the course of the last story and threaded through all Alexandra's fun adventures , was the back-story of Alexandra's existence and her mother's plight. It was discovered that Frank Garner- Hallett was actually responsible for the murder of Darcy Plummer; the crime that Katherine; Alexandra's mother was charged with, she was found guilty, but her sentence was lessened based on the grounds of an insanity plea. She was incarcerated in a prison for the mentally insane in San Francisco. Adam is now working on her release.
Warning: Chapter warnings. Some scenes may deal with the sensitive issues of death, mental illness and abuse and CP of a minor. So I'm rating it T to be safe.
Chapter 1: Prologue
It had been a demanding couple of days on the Ponderosa. The Cartwright men were busy with roundup and preparations for the upcoming trail drive in a month's time. Adam wanted everything to be ready and in order, so that as soon as he returned from San Francisco, he could get going or meet up with his father and brothers. If there were delays with Katherine's appeal and release, then he wanted everything well planned and scheduled tight enough so that his father could ramrod in his place without problems.
Jarrod Barkley had left for Washington, on the Monday noon stage, still laughing at Alexandra having fired him. He found it quite humorous and would have taken the child to task over her comment that she was not scared of spanking. He chuckled about the false bravado he'd seen on their first encounter, when Adam told him of her recent disaster in the cupboard. It had collaspsed after Aex had hid in there and tied the doorknob to the clothes rail; all in a bid to avoid the consequences of her actions. Both had to, in kind, agree with the kid. No child liked the physical chastisement, no more than they liked being restricted or worse, yelled at. In actual fact both Adam and Jarred, agreed that angry words and any punishment administered when in anger was worse than just about anything.
Adam, along with Hiram Knoble and in consultation with Drew Kennedy in San Francisco, had handled and explained the many telegrams that had been going back and forth regarding Katherine's release. The developments were a mixture of good and some bad news; all pointing to the fact that Adam needed to get to San Francisco as soon as possible…..
Overland Telegraph Company...
To: Adam Cartwright
Ponderosa Nevada
Documents arrived stop Garner- Hallett confession sighted and submitted for release of Katherine DeFoe stop Review Panel scheduled for tomorrow stop
Drew Kennedy
San Francisco
Overland Telegraph Company...
To: Adam Cartwright
Ponderosa Nevada
Review Panel positive stop Must wait on new trial transcript from Elk stop
Applying for transfer of Katherine in interim based on medical condition stop Panel recessed will take Warden and the institutes' doctor's referrals tomorrow.
Drew Kennedy
San Francisco
Overland Telegraph Company...
To: Adam Cartwright
Ponderosa Nevada
Transfer refused stop State/ Territory still legal custodian of Katherine DeFoe, as judges original findings and Katherine's plea of Insanity stop Applying for custododial transference to Adam Cartwright stop Hearing set for the 14th Appeal to governor for speedy resolved being processed.
Drew Kennedy
San Francisco
With each telegram Adam's anxiety increased. He wanted to get on the stage and just take off. He'd booked the stage for the end of the following week, which would give him enough time to gather all his documents, financials, and statements. He needed to bring Alexandra's birth certificate and Katherine's will which granted him guardianship of his child and appointed him administrator to Katherine's shares in the theatre and Alexandra's trust. Leaving at the end of next week gave him plenty of time to get there for the appeal. If needed he could tag along with the Overland and Pony express, who had been making the trip from Carson city to Sacramento and then San Francisco in as little as three days.
Off course, Marty would be a little disappointed if he had to leave earlier than expected. He'd relented over the last week, and let her accompany him to the round up and branding in the north pasture. Marty was exited and loved the hard work , proving herself a good worker. She had also started training Dreamer, while he was not a gelding; which worried Adam, and a thorough bred, rather than quarter horse, he was proving himself quite a fine cutting horse. His tall lean form and lithe gait was suited to some of the quick pivots and turns a horse needed to cut out a small calf from its over protective mother. Unfortunately it was also those physical traits of a thorough bred that often made them more susceptible to severe leg and tendon injuries. The horse was not intimidated by the larger fat beasts either, and had a good mouth on him. Marty was still trying to convince Adam that the horse may be ready for this year's trail ride, or at least more work farther out and up in the hills. But Adam wasn't so sure, it took months, even years to train a good cutting horse. However, the mild argumentative bantering between the two was good fun, and Adam let it diffuse his internal worries about Katherine.
Alexandra, on the other hand wouldn't be at all disappointed at all to see Adam head off earlier; not just because she knew that her mother would perhaps be released sooner, but more so because she was going crazy with the restrictions that had been put in place by her father.
Alex had spent the entire week, being ridden to school, kept in at recess and lunch, under the watchful eye of Miss Jones. She had been given extra work to do during those times, her only escape was when she was allowed to each lunch. Alexandra at least had the notion to get Hop Sing, to pack extra so she could at least drag it out as long as possible. And occasionally the wise old Chinese cook threw a special treat for Miss Jones. After school she would be picked up by her father, one of her Uncles, Grandfather or Marty.
The child was being shadowed night and day by the adults of her family and she was getting tired of it. But, she was determined to stay out of trouble, and get the logs and the house of trust re-built. So far so good. She also had to go to bed early every night. One thing she liked was that her father spent a little time during those early bed times to tell her about what was happening with her momma. He took the time to praise her for her efforts and totally appreciated the child's determination to get through the week. He knew how hard it was for her and he knew, just like Joe she would be soon going a little stir crazy, as his pa would have called it.
~oOo~
Adam arrived in town an hour before Alexandra was to be collected from school. He'd arrived early to meet with Hiram and organise the last of the documentation he needed to take to San Francisco. Hiram had contacted the DeFoe lawyer, Gilbert Thurne and Molly in Elk. Molly was going through Willameena's and Katherine's documents hoping to find proof of their parentage. If Adam couldn't claim, guardianship of Katherine, perhaps her biological father Pater Ardelle could, or at least prove that Molly was a sister, albeit half. Molly's status of an offspring of one of Ardelle's slaves was going make things difficult to prove.
Molly's mother had been a slave in the Ardelle family and while she was registered in the slave masters deeds as the child of African women, her fathers' race was registered as European Caucasian. However a name was never noted in his deeds, the family's bible, or the County Church Pasters log. It was the same with Molly; only her mother was named and her father registered as white, though all knew unofficially at the time that Ardelle was her biological father. It was hoped that Willameena, having taken custody of Molly at seven years of age, may have the reference needed. Whether Ardelle, considering the political climate of the 1860's and the conflicts between the north and the south, was willing to support any such reference to him being both Katherine and Molly's father was uncertain.
Adam headed over to the school to pick Alexandra up. As he led Sport through the school yard gates he passed many of the school children and could see Alexandra sitting at her desk near the window, her head resting on her hand. Miss Jones must have felt sorry for the kid, either that or she was torturing her more by having her see out side, where she couldn't go.
Alexandra spotted her father walking through the gates, looked up, smiled and waved, and then shot out of her seat. "Dad," she called tapping the window. She watched him tether Sport to the hitching post at the side of the building.
"Sit down, Alexandra, your father will come in and collect you," chastised Miss Jones.
Alexandra slumped, "Gosh, Miss Jones, it's not like I can get into any mischief jist going to the door," she groused.
"With you Alexandra, I can never be sure," the teacher smirked.
Alexandra scowled and huffed, kicking the chair of the desk in front of her.
"Come now, Alexandra, I know this has been hard for you. It's been hard for me too you know; I haven't liked seeing you so miserable."
"Well then why don't ya tell my dad I done did all my catching up work, plus extra, and chores and I'm near gonna graduate afore my time, iffin yer don't let me get some time with my friends. He's gonna have an leven year old genius on his hands, iffin I keep gettin all this learnin. Not that a genius wouldn't be a bad thing ta be, but I'd rather be a Genie. They's like magicians, and I can't get any of that learnin' sitting behind a desk all of the time, some of the time maybe, cause thing is magicians, need ta learn by oberverin and all, but Genies don't; they gots real magic, not trick magic. Boy and I'm gonna learn none of that, iffin I end up bein' a genius an all instead."
"That would be good news indeed, Alexandra," said Adam as he walked in through the door. "You know I want you to be a fine educated young lady."
"Educated and fine is one thing, Dad, but borin's another. What good is me knowing everything iffin I can't put it ta good use."
"Putting it to good use is the lesson I wanted you to learn, little lady."
"Okay, I done leaned it...Fer a whole week already... "
Adam held up his hand thwarting her rant, "Four days, Alexandra. You have another week and a half to go," Adam said amused.
"Gosh Dad, at least can I get outta this hard seat and come give yer a hug?"
"Of course."
Alexandra ran to her father and jumped up into his arms, nearly bowling him over. Adam chuckled, "Well being restricted hasn't weakened that spring in your step at least."
"Na dad, Miss Jones lets me walk around a bit. She said thems the rules in the Magnanimous charter; yer know, how ya supposed ta treat prisoners and all."
Abigail Jones shook her head. "That's the Magna Carta, Alexandra. Actually Adam, Alexandra has been doing very well. She has tried so hard to obey her restrictions. We've had a few scowls, and dirt kicking, a little tongue pocking out behind my back, but..."
"Hey! how'd do teachers do that?" said a wide eyed Alex. "You ain't got eyes in the back of yer head. Uncle Little Joe reckons that's jist a fairy tale, some teacher done made up."
"Maybe, I'm a Genie," giggled Abigail, "but, I do know, Alexandra,"
Alexandra's eyes went wide, "Wouldn't that beat all dad, having a teacher that was both a Genius and a Genie, no wonder I ain't had any luck."
Adam stood Alex down on the bench seat of the desk in front of him. "No more tongue poking, Alexandra," he scolded, punctuating it with one dusted swat to her backside.
"But, as I was saying," continued Abigail Jones. "Alexandra has tried really hard. We've had no tantrums, no attempted escapes; she hasn't liked it, but Alex had kept to your bargain and mine. She has caught up on all her school work, and tested well this week at all the fifth grade standards. We have a week of school left before summer break. There is very little work to finish and I will be running mainly activities. Most of the older boys will be helping their families with harvest or round-up, so there are only a few children here. I'd like Alexandra to join in with them. It also will make it a lot easier for me. I can't supervise Alexandra at every turn and run the activities safely for everyone."
Adam felt lousy at that last point. He was very appreciative to Abigails support on his discipline methods, as much as she had his support for her methods of teaching, but Alexandra's punishment wasn't meant to inconvenience her or punish the other children, well except perhaps for Josh, but his father had taken good care of that. "I'm sorry Abigail, this has been an inconvenience. I didn't really think about; it was thoughtless of me. If you are happy to have Alexandra join in, she has my permission."
"Thank you Adam. Like I said Alex has done you proud, and I think winding up the year on a positive note is just as educationally worthwhile."
"Fine, it's done then."
Alexandra squealed and jumped up into her father's arms again. She flung her arms around his neck and gripped his midriff with her legs, as she smothered him in kisses, "Thanks, kiss, a, kiss, lot, smooch, smooch, Dad! You're the best dad, in the whole wild Nevada Territory, smooch, and kiss, smooch."
"You mean whole WIDE Nevada Territory..."
"No I mean WILD, dad. It's a wild country out here; ain't it Miss Jones? and Miss Jones is set about tamin' the wild wild west by educating us kids ta be responsible citizens, and look out fer each other and grow up strong and become doctors and ranchers and smart momma's and sheriffs and dressmakers and great lovers like Romeo, jist like Mr. Knoble cause Miss Jones likes..."
"Alexandra," frowned Adam, adding another pat to her rump, "Don't get carried away."
"Yes, ahh," blushed Abigail, "You don't need to butter me up, Alexandra, I was already prepared to plead your case," she said shyly.
"See dad, Miss Jones been learnin lawyer things too, from Mr Knoble."
Abigail coughed.
"Sorry Abigail," said Adam, "Alexandra and I saw you coming out of Hiram's office the other day. I've been meeting with Hiram nearly every day for a week now. I've been getting wires from San Francisco; he's been helping with Katherine's appeal."
"I know and it's alright, Adam. And I did give a little lecture on Shakespeare' plots and tragedies to the older children the other day while the younger ones slept. Of course the boys liked Macbeth while the girls cooed all over the Romeo and Juliet plot."
"I liked Macbeth too; better than the Romeo and Juliet; lovey dovey stuff, except them Montague's, Hadfield and the McCoy's feuds were real exciting!"
"The Capulet's were the other family, Alexandra," corrected Adam.
"Yeah, dad, sorry Capulet's; they's were the one's wearing the funny hats and funny sleeves, no wonder they's was picked on."
Both Adam and Abigail laughed.
"I hope all is going well with the appeal, Adam. I know Hiram is working very hard. I've taken some dinner down to him some nights when he working late at the office," said Abigail sincerely.
Adam raised an eyebrow and gave a pert smile, causing Abigail to blush the brightest read he'd ever seen on a woman. She put her hand to her neck fanning the nape with her lace handkerchief.
"Abigail, you are a really good friend. Hiram looks a lot healthier and happier too. Thank you for helping him. By helping him you are helping us," he smiled then winked before turning. "Well come on Miss Capulet time to head home for the day. There are chores to do, homework to finish, supper to be eaten and an early night," he listed as he threw his child over his shoulder and headed out the door.
"But, I thought I was off restrictions, Dad?" said Alexandra, as she flopped around on his shoulder, trying to stay balanced, against the movement of her father's long marching gait.
"Only at school, little lady. At home, you still have your shadow, and tonight's; that me."
TBC Chapter 2 Me and My Shadow.
A.N. Don't panic the next chapter will follow soon. I wanted to keep the prologue short and a summation. Read on. Oh, and if you want to know more details of the back story, you might like to read the other stories first, however I think you'll pick it up.