Chapter 2
As requested Mrs Banning left the next morning, taking the child with her. But she wasn't finished with the Cartwright family yet. On some level she blamed them for Malinda's treachery, running off with a common saloon entertainer. If Adam hadn't been so attentive Malinda would have married Joe and all their situations would have been assured. Mrs Banning would have taken her rightful place at the tables of all the best houses.
She would show that Benjamin Cartwright that she was a woman of her word.
~o~
Adam had only meant to get supplies, extra rope and some vittles were needed at the lumber yard. He would make a pit stop before afternoon work began. But the looks he was getting from folks in town halted his progress. Whispering died abruptly as he entered the mercantile.
"Hank, here's my list, I'll be back to pick them up in half an hour."
He tipped his hat at the gathering of ladies staring him down. No prizes for guessing what they had just heard. But he didn't care about them. After a prolonged search he found Laura walking back towards her house wiping tears from her eyes.
He ran up alongside her trying to explain "Laura, it isn't true, I have no daughter. She made it up to extract money. Can't you understand that?"
"Oh Adam I want to believe you, I do, but how can I," Laura whined. "Relationships should be based on honesty but you obviously had a thing with this Malinda person and never told me. How can I trust you again."
Adam thought it odd of her to bring up trust considering she went off with his cousin. But he didn't go there. Will had died in tragic circumstances and Laura was devastated.
"Malinda did stay at our house Laura but there was no THING. I did not court her or set out to court her. Her mother is making this up to extract money from my father."
"Adam, I love you, you know I do, but I think it might be wise if we separate until this thing blows over. I think it best all round,"
With that, she turned on her heel and walked off whimpering away to herself. Adam could only stare after her feeling his heart ripped out for a second time.
After a moment he walked off back down the dirt track towards town. A sharp clap of thunder heralded more rain. It's sound drowned out the tirade of expletives Adam let rip as his mood deteriorated further.
~o~
Rain lashed down all evening. Work ground to a halt at the lumber camp as wagons of timber was stuck in the mud and trying to shift them could fall the timber or damage the horses pulling them. All was packed away under canvas sheeting and security was hired to oversee things until the weather improved.
With nothing better to do Adam headed for the saloon. He was supposed to be taking Laura to dinner but instead found himself sharing a bar with a bunch of drunken miners, smelling of damp wool with steam rising from their clothes.
He suddenly caught sight of a familiar face sitting alone at a booth nursing a bottle of whisky. He took his beer and sauntered off in that direction.
"Spirits Joe?, never a good idea to session on spirits. Why don't you have a beer."
"Why don't ya mind your own business," Joe slurred out.
Adam took the seat opposite him.
"So, how's life."
Joe grinned despite himself. "Let's see, I have a demented Father who pushes like a slave driver, no girl will look at me because I stink of sweat and horse manure and the mother of my ex has returned to say that my girlfriend had a baby girl with my older brother...,"
"Shhh," Adam looked around to see if anyone heard.
"Ah they all know Adam, she made sure of that," Joe mumbled sleepily.
"Joe, I didn't sleep with Malinda."
"I know that Adam, the woman's mad. Right now I'm glad I didn't marry into that family. Lucky escape."
Hoss was ambling over, he stopped dead on seeing Adam.
"I had to come in Adam. I had to jist make sure he didn't get in no trouble. Honest."
Joe and Adam both shared a chuckle. "You're not fourteen anymore Hoss, sit down," Adam grinned.
"Take him out to the wood shed for old times sake," Joe said.
"I never took him out to the woodshed,"
"You did me," Joe whined.
"You deserved it," both brothers said together.
~o~
The boys were home much later falling in the door and laughing at nothing. Ben wasn't much impressed with their behaviour.
"I'm glad to see you were out enjoying yourselves while this ranch is coming apart around us. Don't mind me, I'll do all the worrying and planning."
He was sitting behind his desk and Joe and Hoss cowed by his temper stood before him in silence.
"Oh and Adam, I took care of that little problem for you, Mrs Banning was paid a hefty sum."
Ben had been drinking too.
Adam told the other two to go to bed. With some trepidation they headed towards the stairs.
"I am not finished Adam," Ben spoke in anger.
"They're not children Pa to stand to attention while you chastise them. They're men, they went for a beer, now they're going to bed."
Ben stood up, his face red with anger but Adam wasn't finished,
"And Mrs Banning is not my little problem. She is an evil woman given to blackmail and she's made a fool of you. She's already told everyone in town about the child."
"What do you mean?"
"The story is all over town, she's told everyone. And once she goes back and shows them all how you tried to pay her off to silence her there will be even more speculation. So you see Father you have solved exactly nothing."
Adam headed for the stairs, he was fuming. They had worked tirelessly for months trying to reverse the fortunes of the Pondorosa. One night off and their father treats them like they need to be chastised like children.
