Blue Spanish Eyes
Chapter Three
Chapter 3
Hoss sat at the table thinking of Adam and his strange behavior. Drawing a picture of a woman no one knew, refusing to take that blasted wedding band off, calling out the name of the woman in his sleep. It was that thought, his older brother calling out for a non-existent woman, which propelled him to stand up from the table and walk over to where his father was working at his desk.
"Pa?" Hoss shuffled his feet and stuck his hands in his pockets. He was hesitant to say what was on his mind, yet he knew he had to. For the sake of his elder brother, he needed to. "There's somethin' I reckon ya oughta know."
Seeing Hoss so nervous put Ben on high alert. That being the case, he had no problem with stopping his work and listening to what the man had to say. "And what's that?" Ben asked laying his pen down and keeping his eyes on his middle son.
"Adam called out the name Rosita in his sleep again last night. He is sketching more of those portraits, the one with the woman. Dagnamit, she ain't even real, and he that weddin' band he has on," Hoss passed and then hurried on, "I saw it by his wash basin this morning. He's had the initials RRC engraved on it, next to his." The gentle giant bit his lip and looked towards the stairs that led to the bedrooms upstairs and then back to his father. "Think you might oughta go to talk to the doc? I mean it ain't natural for a man to be doing those things."
Ben sighed. "Adam's made such progress, but maybe you're right." Ben laid his pen down. "Maybe it's time I talked to Paul. This problem, it's only growing worse. You go help your brother in the pasture, I'll go to town. This paperwork can wait."
~oOo~
Virginia City was amazingly quiet as Ben rode into town. He suspected it was because many of the surrounding ranches had their ranch hands bringing cattle down from higher pastures. After leaving Buck in the livery stable, Ben began walking down the sidewalk. A few of the town's folk walked by said hello, and then whispered behind his back about Adam. That highly irritated Ben, as the man had better hearing than most thought. He'd have turned around and chewed the gossipers out only he was far more concerned with talking to Dr. Martin than anything else.
Doctor Martin was heading out of his office when Ben stopped him requesting to go back inside. While he didn't know what the famous rancher wanted, Paul wasn't about to turn him away either. Why would he? He cared for each and every one he served. Therefore, he gladly re-entered his office. .
"So, what's up?" The good doctor sat down behind his desk and pointed to a chair where Ben could sit. He saw no reason the two of them could not be comfortable while they talked.
"It's like this." Ben began talking, telling him everything that had been going on and his concerns with what he figured was Adam's delusion. "I thought it best to talk to you before I try to decide what, if anything, to do about it." He finished speaking and leaned back in the chair he was using.
"Is Adam threatening anyone at the ranch?" Paul asked as his eyebrows turned down slightly, "Cause I know for a fact he's posed no danger to anyone here in town." The doctor then shrugged and confessed he thought the town's people were far too concerned about Adam's refusal to court any of the eligible young women in town.
"Are you saying my family shouldn't be concerned?" Ben couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Ben, I'm not a psychiatrist. However," Doctor Martin said as he leaned forward, "If Adam poses no threat to anyone, and this woman he seems to think is real is his only problem, I'd say don't push things. He had an extremely serious head injury. That's not something we totally understand yet." The man then advised simply to go about his business and not to pressure Adam about the picture, or woman.
"Don't encourage him in his delusion, but don't argue with him either. Is that it?" Ben wanted to make sure he had things right.
"At this point, yes," Paul answered as he too leaned backwards, "Medically I can do nothing for Adam, but like I said, he's posed no threat to anyone. Oh, I suppose you could send take him to see a psychiatrist, but at this point and time? I think that might make it worse. I mean, he might feel like he's being rejected by his family, and that does more damage than anything. Well, in my opinion it does." Dr. Martin watched Ben stand up and apologized for not being able to offer more help.
"That's okay." Ben stuck out his hand. "You've listened and gave your honest opinion. I appreciate it." The man then stuck on his hat and walked out the door leaving Dr. Martin halfway wishing he'd chosen a different profession.
Once Ben was back at the ranch, and Hoss and Little Joe had returned from doing their work, Ben pulled onto the porch and told them what the doctor had said. After a short discussion, the three agreed to follow Paul's advice.
"Maybe, he'll take the ring off yet, quit thinking about that woman, one that doesn't even exist, and court someone around here." Ben spoke after Hoss and Little Joe had disappeared into the barn thinking he was alone. However, he was horrified when Adam came around the corner with his eyes blazing.
"That woman, as you say, has a name. It's Rosita, and she's real. I don't know when, but every fiber in my body tells me someday I will see those blue Spanish eyes again. I'm not getting involved with anyone else." Adam stormed by them into the house. From where he stood, Ben could see through the window. As he watched Adam twist the wedding band around on his finger and then bound up the stairs, Ben wept silent tears for a son he thought for sure would never snap out of the delusion his mind had created for him.
