It was evening when the surrey drove into the front yard of the ranch. Adam and Evelyn had not spoken much regarding their conversation with Mother Lioba. Both were mentally and physically exhausted. Jamie heard the carriage and came out of the house to greet his brother and sister-in-law.
"Glad to have y'all back, Adam," he said with a hint of fatigue in his voice. "How did things go?"
"Glad to be back little brother. It was interesting to say the least. I'll tell you about it tomorrow. How were things here?"
"Interesting to say the least," Jamie grinned. "Would you like me to take care of the team for you?"
"Thank you, it would be appreciated. You're not going home tonight are you? It's rather late. I wouldn't hear the end of it from Pa if he found out you went home in the dark."
"What Pa doesn't know won't hurt him, Adam," Jamie guffawed. Adam glared at him, raising an eyebrow. "But on the chance he does find out, I think I'll crash in the bunkhouse."
"Wise choice kid," winked Adam.
As Jamie unhitched the team and lead them into the barn, Adam walked towards Evelyn, who was now standing on the front porch. She had a solemn look on her face.
"I was afraid this would happen," Adam sighed, shaking his head.
"Afraid what would happen, Adam? That I would want to keep them? They are not stray puppies, Adam Cartwright! They are two children who need a home and parents to love them. We have the room and they get along well with the other children, I don't see a problem," she retorted gruffly.
"Evelyn, the problem is that we know so little about them. The girl's already run off four times. What's to say she wouldn't run again?"
"Your pa knew little about Jamie," she said pointing to the barn, "and that didn't stop him from loving the boy. Even when Jamie ran off after breaking Pa's gun, he went to the city and convinced the boy to come back, and that was before Jamie was adopted."
"You seem to be quick to justify our current situation. Are you doing so for the children's benefit or your own?"
"I'm not sure I understand what you are implying?"
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed that Maisy is the same age Anna would be if she were still with us," Adam mentioned cautiously.
Tears streamed down Evelyn's cheeks. The moment she saw Maisy, the memory of the baby they had lost flooded her thoughts. The trauma of birth had been too great for the infant girl to handle.
"Evvy, I'm sorry. I ..." he began.
"No, you're right. Ever since they came I have had Anna on my mind. I believe I've been given another chance in a way, Adam. I understand that there was nothing I could have done to save Anna, she just wasn't strong enough, but I can do something for Maisy and Jake. I know you're trying to remain logical about the circumstances, but those children are NOT going back to that filthy institution!" With that, she spun on her heel and marched into the house.
Standing in front of the hearth, Evelyn stared at the smouldering fire. She did not notice Adam behind her, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. "Well, I guess we should get some rest if we're making another trip to Carson City tomorrow."
A startled Evelyn quickly turned to face her husband. "Oh Adam, are you sure?" she cried.
"Positive. I'm sorry for questioning your motives, Evvy. I have been trying to remain logical, maybe a little too much. Forgive me?"
The sobbing woman nodded then ran across the room and hugged him fiercely.
"We need to take Maisy and Jake with us, so could you make sure they are up and ready?"
"Oh course," she replied, grinning profusely.
"Good. Now let's go to bed. I'm beat!" he yawned as they ascended the stairs to their room.
"Maisy I want to go back!" Jake howled.
"No! Now come on!" she growled, dragging the boy behind her.
"No Maisy! No!"
"Look, Jacob, I told you they don't want us! They were gonna take us back to the orphanage; I heard them say it myself. I ain't goin' back to that damn place Jake, so come on!" she shouted as they trudged down the dirt road towards town.
"Ma! Pa! Wake up! They're gone!" Morgan yelled, bursting into his parent's bedroom.
"Who?" Adam groggily asked.
"Jake and Maisy," Morgan explained. "I woke up cuz I had to use the outhouse and Jake wasn't in his bed. I checked to see if he was in Maisy's room downstairs, but they're not. They're gone!"
"Those two will be the death of me," Adam muttered as he leapt out of bed. "Morgan, go wake the others. Uncle Jamie is in the bunkhouse; tell him and Luke to saddle a couple of horses."
"Yes sir," Morgan replied then dashed out of the room.
"Five times, Evvy! Five!" Adam said to his wife as they quickly dressed.
"Have patience, Hon. She's probably just scared is all."
"Well if she isn't scared now she will be when I get a hold of her!" he promised, grabbing his shirt and storming out of the room. Adam raced to the barn where he found Jamie, Luke, Benny and four saddled horses. "I told Morgan only a couple of horses, not four," he remarked.
"We're goin' with ya, Pa," Luke bravely said.
"Absolutely not! I have neither the time nor the energy to worry about you two. Now march yourselves back into the house!"
"No sir," muttered Luke, mounting his horse.
"Do not test me boy!" warned Adam.
"Luke isn't trying to be tanishus, Pa," Benny intervened. "It's just that we were the ones who found Maisy and Jake and we are responsible for them."
"What is Luke?" Jamie questioned.
"Tanishus. You know, stubborn," Benny explained
"Tenacious, Benjamin," Adam chortled, "the word is tenacious."
"Right, Pa. Tenacious."
Benny had a talent of defusing Adam's temper, even if it was by accident.
"I'm pretty sure I know where they headed, Pa," Luke chimed in.
"Where's that son?"
"Back to Virginia City. If Maisy wants to get away quick, I think she my try to hitch a ride with someone in town."
"Sounds like a possibility. Jamie, take Benny and go check at Joe's just in case. And Benjamin, you best mind what he says, understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Come on Mr. Tanishus," Adam said to Luke, "You're coming with me."
Maisy and Jake were half way to town when Luke and Adam spotted them. Upon hearing the galloping horses, Maisy turned to discover the two Cartwrights riding towards her and Jake.
"Hurry, Jake, run!" Maisy commanded, grabbing Jake's arm. "It's them!"
"No, Maisy!" he shouted, standing his ground.
"Fine! Get sent back for all I care! I don't need you! I don't need nobody!" she screamed, letting go of his arm and running into the open field along side of the road.
Seeing Jake standing by himself, Adam hollered to Luke. "Go stay with Jake," he ordered, "I'll get Maisy!"
When he came close enough, he jumped from his horse and raced after her on foot. It only took a second or two before he snatched her up in his arms.
"Let me go! Let me go! Get your damn hands offa me!" she shrieked, flailing and kicking about.
Saying nothing, Adam strode over to his horse and flung the girl, face down, over the saddle. He then walked the horse back to the road as Maisy lay there, screaming and swearing the whole way. When they reached Luke and Jake, Adam removed Maisy from the saddle and sat her on a large bolder, so he could be at eye level with his irate captive.
"So Margaret Jane, what made you run this time?" he calmly asked.
"I ain't goin' back, I tell ya! You ain't sending me back to that place!"
"What makes you think that Mrs. Cartwright and I would send you back to the orphanage?"
"I heard ya. You was talking last night and you told Mrs. Cartwright to have us ready to go to Carson City. I ain't goin' back!"
"So you've said. Did it ever occur to you, Margaret Jane that we would need to take you back in order to legally adopt you and Jacob?"
"No," she mumbled.
"No, you didn't. Perhaps I went about this the wrong way. I should not have assumed you would want to stay with us. I should have asked you and Jacob what you wanted. Before I ask, however, I want to make a few things clear. If you decide to be part of our family you will be treated as though you were born a Cartwright. This means that you will refer to me as Pa or Sir and Mrs. Cartwright as Ma or Ma'am. You will be expected to contribute to the running of the household by completing chores assigned to you and by attending school. Also, there will be no more running off, foul language, or lying. If you do, you will be punished same as my other children would if they behave inappropriately. Lastly, you will be surrounded by people who care for and love you. With this in mind, Maisy and Jacob, would you like to be members of our family?"
"I'll do it! I'll git 'dopted!" Jake exclaimed, raising his hand.
"Great, Jake!" Luke said patting the boy on the back.
Maisy jumped down from the bolder. "So will I catch hell for the stuff I already done?" she enquired rather distrustfully.
"Yes, including that last statement," Adam added after hearing Luke snicker.
"What would happen?"
"Well, let's see now. You have committed many infractions, Margaret. Your punishment would be quite substantial. For running away you will be confined to your room for two weeks. A long list of extra chores will be added to your regularly assigned jobs, which should take care of the lying offence. And a good tanning ought to take care of the vulgar language.
"What about borrowing?" Jake questioned.
"Shut up Jake!" Maisy glowered. "Don't..." Adam covered her mouth with his hand, stopping her mid sentence.
"What's this about borrowing, Jake?"
"Maisy stealed money from the sisters, but she's gonna give it back so they says it's just borrowing," he innocently clarified.
"Oh, Maisy, what have you done?" said Adam in an exasperated tone. "How much did you take?"
"Twenty-seven dollars and eighty-six cents, but I was gonna pay them back after I got a job."
"Stealing is a very serious action that will not be tolerated, no matter the reason."
"Geez, Maisy, if you come live with us, you won't be sitting for a month," laughed Luke.
"That's enough out of you, young man!" Adam scolded. He then turned his focus on Maisy. "I'll have to think on a suitable punishment for that one, but whatever I decide you must accept if you choose to become a Cartwright. So, Miss Margaret Jane Harris, what say you? Are you coming home with us or going in the other direction?"
Evelyn anxiously waited on the front porch for news about Maisy and Jake. She was about to go inside when she heard horses approaching. She ran from the porch to see Adam and Jake on one horse followed by Luke and Maisy on the other.
"Thank heavens you found them! I was worried sick," she gasped as Adam handed Jake to her. She wrapped her arms around the boy, squeezed him tight, and then gave him a light swat on the backside. "Don't you ever run off again, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Ma," he smiled then kissed her cheek.
Dismounting his horse, Adam walked over to Luke and Maisy. "Lucas, will you go see if you can track down your brother and Uncle Jamie and tell them we're all home now?"
"Sure, Pa," he replied. "Good luck, Little Sister, you'll need it," he whispered to Maisy before Adam lifted her off the horse.
"Lucas, back in half an hour, whether you find them or not."
"Yes, Sir," he yelled as he rode away.
Evelyn put Jake down and rushed over to Maisy, throwing her arms around her. "Oh, Maisy, I'm so happy you came back to us! Let's get you inside. You must be plum tuckered out," she said taking the girl by the hand and leading her in the direction of the house.
"Ahem!" Adam coughed. "Are you forgetting something young lady?"
"No, but I was hoping you did."
"Not likely," he smirked "Go wait for me in the barn."
"Adam, don't you think..."
"Evelyn, this is between me and Margaret Jane," he interrupted then turned to Maisy "Do as I say young lady."
"Yes, Mr. Cartwright," she sighed.
"I beg your pardon."
"Sorry," she beamed remembering, "I mean, yes, Pa."
"That's better," Adam grinned slightly as he watched his daughter walk towards the barn.
8