As Hoss took the letters he noticed that one of them had been posted from San Francisco. He had no relatives there. He read the address, the letter had been written by Esther-Sue Winnicot. This woman had met the Cartwrights, while they were in San Francisco. Esther-Sue had been hired to take care of the children. She knew how to write, to read and to count, so they asked her to teach in that school. There were many sisters in this school and Esther-Sue was now one of them, they taught young ladies, they took care of sick people and of the poor people of the community. San Francisco was a big city and had its share of poor people. Hoss had decided to support those children and the adults who took care of them. Each month he sent them money. He wasn't the only man doing that. Joe and Adam had also decided to provide a financial support to other houses like this. Adam was sending money to help children, who were orphans, after their father had been killed in mines, while Joe was supporting artists. He had known some of them during a show in Virginia City.
Ben was thinking about that wild cat again and again. So many cows had been killed. And men couldn't stop that carnage. Each day they found other beast which had been eaten alive. Ben and the other ranchers were losing a lot of money.
Hoss had decided to pay a visit to the orphans in San Francisco. Even if the sister was telling him that everything was under control, he wanted to have a look. There were more and more children and the sisters had decided to have new rooms build. It was hot, very hot and that was not the best moment to make such a long trip but Hoss wanted to be there. So he would go to San Francisco with Angela, that would be a second honeymoon for them and Angela could help the sisters with the children. Hoss knew that he could count on his family to take care of the kids. The sister Marie-Euphrasy had broken her leg.
********In San Francisco
Hoss and Angela arrived on Saturday in late afternoon when the children were coming back from a walk. They were 50 split up into groups. Hoss and Angela were welcomed by the nuns and the young pupils. Then the teachers guided the kids towards the main room to give them bread and honey, while Esther-Sue took Hoss and his wife to show them their room before taking them to Sister Marie-Euphrasie's office. She welcomed them. She was fine and told them that she would soon be alright. Her broken leg didn't stop her overseeing the school, the kids, and the chores.
The day after Hoss and his wife were officially introduced during the service. The families of some children were present and the children sang and read some poetry.
On Monday morning the young girls went to their classroom while Hoss and his wife started the hard work they were supposed to do. Hoss took his toolbox and set to work. Adam had given him some papers before leaving; plans for the rooms he wanted to build. Hoss was following the plans with the men he had hired. The gardener and some men were ready to help the giant. First they built some big wood frames which they put up, these would be partition walls and fastened them to the walls of the existing house.
Angela put her hands behind her back and unfastened her apron. She was bathed in sweat, she had spent hours with a brush, and she had cleaned the old creaking floor in the classroom. It wasn't dark yet and she could enjoy a few minutes calm in the two small rooms the sister had given them. She washed her hands and face in the basin which was on the chest of drawers and looked at herself in the mirror. She had a happy face, a shiny happy face, even if she was tired. She hadn't noticed that Hoss had come in the room, so she was surprised when he put his muscled arms around her thin waist but she stopped him:
« Oh there you are… Hurry up, it's almost 8.00 pm. I thought, you had drowned in the bathtub!
- Oh dear; you know perfectly that the bells always ring too early ».
Angela shrugged her shoulders and kept wiping the table with a cloth.
"That doesn't allow us to dawdle! I would be very embarrassed to be late for dinner, we're supposed to live here. We can't pretend that something happened to us during our trip!"
- It's OK, I'm ready, look at me! » Hoss said while straightening his tie in front of the mirror in the corridor. "I just need to adjust this rope that you tied around my neck". Angela kept from laughing and replied in a false angry tone:
-Mr Cartwright, you're an idiot. Oh I remember, you didn't say the same the day you asked my father for my hand. You were trembling just like a newborn foal.
-Maybe, I should have gone to the barn and cleaned it with Joe, on that day, instead of asking you to be my wife".
Just as he finished his sentence, he received the cloth direct in his face and he couldn't avoid Angela's scolding.
- Oh, Hoss Cartwright, how dare you!"
Hoss picked up the cloth and while laughing loud, he came close to his wife. He pretended to threaten her with his finger:
- Alright, I'll forget about this, but don't do it again!
He hugged his wife lovingly. She nestled in his arms and said:
«We'll go to bed early this evening. It would be the perfect time to...»
Hoss smiled and took her face tenderly in his hands and he kissed her and whispered in her ear softly:
- If the girls of the school don't exhaust us too much, we'll try to conceive a new child, I promise that, Mrs Cartwright". Angela took a deep breath, she could feel her heart beating in her chest and there was that nice warm sensation burning in her whole body. She gave him another kiss and she put her lips on his neck and moving away from him, she added:
- Let's go, we have to go down right now, or else the sisters will look askance at us.
"Hey; what's the meaning of that?" She reacted. As she had opened the door, a young girl fell onto the carpet.
"Were you eavesdropping, young lady?" Angela asked in a firm voice.
"No, I wasn't", she replied sharply. « Sister Regina sent me to tell you that the dinner was about to be served", she added while looking at the woman.
*******During that time in Virginia City
Adam came close to Francesca and pressed her against his chest. He put his lips on her mouth and Adam caressed the hair of his children before leaving.
« I have to go. Ranch hands are waiting for me, they'll be anxious if they don't see me and some men will gossip. » Adam said before putting Benji in his mom's arms.
« Good luck! » She said and took the child on her hip. Adam caressed the child's cheek for the last time before leaving. But Benji wanted his daddy to stay.
«Daddy!»
Adam turned his back and sent a small kiss with the tip of his fingers and waved. The little boy tried to escape from his mother's arms but she didn't let him go.
« Oh! No, young man, you stay with me! »
« Why can't I do what I want? »
***********Later
Francesca knew that Adam wouldn't be at home for lunch, so she sat down with the children to eat. Amelia finished the chore of setting the table with her two cousins, who were there whilst their parents were in San Francisco. Francesca kept an eye on the meat sauce in the big pot on the stove. She told her boys and her nephew Emmanuel to go to wash their hands so that they could start to eat.
After lunch she looked at the letters which had been brought by one of the ranch hands in the mailbox close to the door. One letter drew her attention, and that was a letter addressed to Mr Adam Cartwright, Ponderosa Ranch
***************The day after
Ben left the ranch and could hear the whining of the stallions they had brought the day before. He walked straight ahead towards the barn. He left his family who were still sleeping: the flames were still dancing in the fireplace and the morning dawn hadn't broken yet. Ben's character was not hard, but he was a powerfully determined man even if he was tired. This morning he had quietly left his bed, he had walked towards the drawers to take his clothes that he had prepared the night before. He had come tiptoeing down the stairs as he didn't want to wake his wife up and he had walked towards the kitchen to prepare some food.
As he saw the misty plain he was speechless and took a deep breath of the fresh air of that October morning, the fall had arrived. The Ponderosa pines were dressed in a red cloak; some pine needles covered the moss and some small rabbits and squirrels were dancing over it and jumping in all directions. Tints of red, yellow and orange, the leaves scattered by the wind fell gently by Ben's feet.
Each time the wind started to caress his cheek he thought of the seconds flying away and he decided to set out, motivated by the big frustration he was feeling each time he thought of that animal. He was determined, indeed he was. But the wild cat was determined too, it had that predatory instinct, it had to hunt for raw food. It didn't fear anyone and it was able to pursue its prey in the treetops, even jumping from one branch to another. It had a habit of living in areas with rocks and tall trees for refuge, dense thickets and abandoned burrows but it came closer and closer to people and Ben knew how dangerous it was. A wild cat could kill a human by swatting him hard; so a large safety distance was recommended. However Ben was impressed by the beauty of the animal, how it moved graciously. The male which was chased by Ben and the other men was 5ft 10 long, Ben had had plenty of time to watch its fine and muscled silhouette. So often had it defied him, watched him and then disappeared. The animal ran so fast, Ben had seen it disappearing so quickly. He had barely caught the animal's hypnotic eyes but he had been able to feel how intense the look was and he had felt the amber colored eyes focused on him.
« Hank, Hank ». Ben called, knocking at the hut door. Hank was Ben's best ranch hand and he had always been there and had never wanted to leave the Ponderosa. He had arrived in Virginia City with a horse and a rope and the day when he had met Ben Cartwright, he had known, he had found the kind of life he had always wanted. He had found a place to live and a family to be with. He had worked hard and was still working hard on the biggest ranch in the whole territory, the long hours and weeks he had spent on his horse had given him bruises. Life was hard when you had to drive the cattle. How many times had he been able to sleep a complete night without being disturbed? Some animals often tried to escape and look for freedom. Hank the cowboy, the rancher was the man of the situation, the man who knew everything about ranch life, the man who knew the songs which could calm down a horse or liven up the night at the campfire.
Ben had to face the fact that Hank had maybe forgotten to wake up. He couldn't hear anything. Ben kept hammering at the door. The bunkhouse was empty, all the guys had left it and there were no horses in the barn, except Hank's horse. Ben decided to take the bull by the horns. He broke open the door with all the strength of his shoulder. Hank was lying down on his bed but Ben immediately realized that he hadn't overslept. He grabbed his ranch hand and pulled him outside. Hank regained consciousness; Ben was supporting his head after he had put him on the ground. He had been bothered by the toxic fumes from the stove. Hank came round and started to protest loud and clear against the one who hadn't done his job:
« For goodness' sake! It was Jeff who should have done that. He had had to clean the pipe and he hadn't done it… Just wait till I lay my hands on him…He's gonna get it… ».
« Glad to see you back", Ben commented. He was so relieved to see him alive. He knew perfectly that such toxic fumes could be deadly.
Hank was riding behind Ben. After a cup of coffee and a brandy he had left with the boss. They had to hunt that wild animal. Both of them had skill, they knew each corner of the plain. And today they had a new plan: they had a plump rooster. The animal would do what he was able to do: crow. He surely would be a fantastic lure for the wild cat. Ben had decided, that was enough, he had been defied enough by the wild cat and that was about to stop on that glorious day. On that day Ben and Hank had decided to go for a last hunt, without any men. And on that day while they were climbing onto the rocks, they ended up face to face with that wild cat which had defied so many men before. It was such a beautiful animal, whose coat was turtledove grey and buff. He had a very white snout and magnificent black shadows under its eyes, as if it had kohl around it. It had big paws, and neither Ben nor Hank had any desire to be scratched by it. Ben and Hank stopped 65 feet away. Instinctively they crouched down. The animal came nearer, it could smell humans.
Ben put his rifle on the floor as slowly as possible and opened the palm of his hand. The wild cat lay down. It started to watch in another direction, just like a cat would do to make a congener know that it wouldn't attack. Then it started to lick its claws. Then it bolted up and moved a few meters away. The animal's eyes were shining like two big wooden pearls. It was lying on its left side; revealing its large white breast. An impression of power emanated from its body. It was in Ben's sight again. He had never seen before such a great wildcat. It was about to pounce again, it was capable of biting Ben or Hank's limbs off… But there was that red bloodstain on its coat. The wild cat was injured, its shoulder was bleeding. Somebody had managed to touch it? With a rifle ? With an arrow ? Ben had that idea in the back of his mind, his wife Joan had told him about the wildcat symbolizing power for Indian people. Ben and the animal were face to face, looking into each other's eyes, the moment lasted just a few seconds, and the puma didn't seem to be aggressive anymore. Or maybe Ben was about to be hypnotized by the so special eyes of the animal. Ben decided however to come nearer slowly, he was holding his breath and reached out his hand. That's the way the dramatic situation happened. The animal jumped on Hank and Ben, it opened its mouth, ready to bite. Ben grabbed his rifle and fired a shot but the gun jammed. He thought that his last moment had come, he managed to jump back, but suddenly he felt his ankle "pop", and gave way under him and he fell. Hank, realizing the danger, and without hesitating, pointed his rifle at the animal and killed it, touching its head with one bullet. Then he came back to Ben Cartwright and started to take care of him. He rolled him on his side while he was still lying on the ground. They were far away from the Ponderosa, and they weren't in safety. He tried not to move Ben's body until he knew how serious his injuries were. Ben had bitten the dust nicely, he had lost his balance; had tumbled down and he was now on the rocky plain. Luckily he had just a few scratches and one small wound on his leg.
"Oh I'm sorry, Mr Cartwright, but I want to be sure that you're alright and safe. »
« I had a narrow escape; I was very lucky.
He was still alive, that was sure, because he clenched his teeth and grimaced in pain each time Hank put his hands on one of his wounds. This hunting could have meant his death.
"How serious is it, Hank ? I'm sorry, I don't understand, what happened with my rifle. "
Hank gave a hint of a smile; he wanted his boss to relax.
"Don't worry, Mr Cartwright, you have no broken bones, just a few scratches! You certainly sprained your ankle. I'll have a look", he said and grabbed Ben's boot to take it off. But he was stopped by the man who was wearing that boot.
« NO, don't do that. If I take my boot off, I won't be able to put it back. I had better keep it on, that will keep my ankle warm, and it won't swell anymore. Help me to mount my horse and we'll ride back to the Ponderosa. And by the way, could you please take the wild cat with you. We'll show it to the men, and that will prove that we got it. Hank did as he was told and helped his boss to get on Buck. Both of them managed to reach the ranch. Ben couldn't help grimacing. He would stay a few days on a settee with a supporting bandage on his ankle.
********In San Francisco
Since Hoss had arrived in San Francisco, the job they had started was almost finished, all that had been planned had been done. Hoss had been able to count on the men he had hired, nobody had ever refused to work. Angela had decided to teach the little girls how to sew and how to make necklaces with pearls, the way she had learnt to do it with Joan and Francesca. She hadn't practiced a lot but she was rigorous enough to teach them how to make small leather bags or small armbands. The little girls were very happy, the sisters hadn't the same enthousiasm towards Indian culture but they appreciated Angela's determination. The lessons lasted 45 minutes and the little girls did a very good job with Angela even if there was that troublemaker named « Annabelle ». A little girl named Miranda had sat down on a chair on which Annabelle had left one needle. Angela could have believed, it might have been an accident, if Annabelle hadn't whispered 'you asked for it'. Angela had pressed the little girl in her arms to comfort her and had given a dark look to Annabelle who had added that Miranda's necklace was ugly.
*********a few hours later
Angela was surprised to see Annabelle in the room.
«What are you doing here ?
«I have to take care of the laundry. I have to pick up the clothes and we'll wash them!»
Angela opened her eyes wide.
«I don't remember any of the sisters saying anything about it... And how did you come in ? »
Annabelle looked her straight in the eyes and told her :
«I've got the keys, I told you, I'm allowed to come in. »
Angela couldn't believe what she had heard, Annabelle had a nerve. That smart little girl was different from the kids she had known in Virginia City and really different from the one she had brought into world. The little girl's eyes seemed to reveal emotional scars, looking into her eyes seemed to be like looking into a book with torn pictures, she had so many questions on her lips. Her eyes were begging for love, in spite of all the bitter words she would say to people around her. She seemed to be carrying, in her bag, hours of loneliness. She had adults around her, but they didn't all know how to raise her, and her parents didn't want to take care of her, but she had lovely clothes. Deep in her soul was a feeling of helplessness and sorrow, grey ashes had made her blue eyes less bright than they should have been, and cruel, something that a little girl's eyes shouldn't be. All of nine years old, Annabelle stood up the adults and even dared to be sassy and she knew how to persecute the kids who were fragile and kind.
Angela wasn't easily taken in, she grabbed the little girl by the shoulders and pushed her towards the door :
«Go out, young lady. You shouldn't be here. I'll take care of our clothes. Go to your room, now ».
«You don't have the right », she protested, offended by the way she was being treated.
«Oh I don't have the right ? we'll see about that!
Angela suddenly lost her patience, exasperated, she grabbed the little girl by the hand and pushed her through the door, forcefully.
«Consider yourself lucky that I don't remove the dust from your backside! »
Annabelle didn't say a word but threw a black look at the lady who had dared to push her outside. Annabelle wasn't the kind of child who gave up easily.
********During that time, on the Ponderosa, in Joe's ranch.
Leslie came closer with Bobby in her arms. Baby Elisa was sleeping in her cot that Joe had put on a small trolley, so that Leslie could push it when she had to go somewhere. They were near the fence, close to the horses. Bobby wanted to touch the horses, so he was wriggling in his mother's arms, but Leslie held him firmly. This young Cartwright was a tornado. All day, he wasn't calm for a single moment, he jumped, ran, yelled everywhere. At home, on the Ponderosa, in the wagon, in town, and even in church. Or at least he tried. He made his parents crazy and dizzy, he hated bedtime and he had trouble sleeping. But he was a cute tiny tornado !
- « Tt tt tt tt ! Don't move, young man », she said.
But the little boy wanted to see the horses. He tried again, hoping that his parents would change their minds concerning his tantrums. So he started to cry, wishing he would be able to do what he wanted to do.
- « Ouinnnnnn ! »
« Oh, stop that nonsense », Leslie said.
« Ouinnnnnnn ! »
Joe grabbed the little boy and returned home. He put him in his bed, gave him his teddy bear and the little boy became quiet and started to gaze at the eyes of the teddy bear. Joe carressed his son's head :
«Alright, you're a good boy. Close your eyes and take a few minutes' rest. »
Later
Bobby was very proud, he was holding his father's hand on the small rocky road. He was a little boy, he had a small body, a featherweight, thin as a bean, but he wanted to be treated like a big boy. He raised his head and looked at the sky and at his strong daddy, there were no clouds in the sky, he was happy. He liked that day, he was walking with his dad, he was smiling and his eyes were sparkling with joy. His daddy was taking him to a secret place, for another treasure hunt, the little boy was feeling so strong close to his big daddy whose shadow was so large and long. The clearing became brighter, the child was wide-eyed, « hush, don't move », a small rabbit bolted, hopping away. Today Joe and his son were finally taking the time to make the most of the beauty of the Ponderosa, of the sunny landscape. Breathing in the fresh air, as his father had suggested, Bobby was gazing at a pretty butterfly as it flew, he grabbed with the tip of his finger the stem of a flower or the branch of a bush near the ground. His father taught him the names of the trees and the plants, talked to him about mushrooms, those which were edible and those whose beauty would make him sick. The wind was blowing in his baby curls, the child was laughing and singing joyfully to himself, the Ponderosa was like a giant bubble of frivolity. Bobby was walking behind his daddy, in his father's footsteps, his daddy was showing him the way and helping him to build his life, and Joe was really happy to do for his boy what his father had done before for him.
*****Later
As Adam finally came back from the sawmill after an exhausting day, he was welcomed by his daughter. Waving a paper about, she threw herself into his arms, shouting that she had won the spelling competition at school, that she had been given a ribbon and the so-much-talked-about dictionnary which had been promised as a reward. He lifted her up and kissed her several times, he was clearly proud and moved, then they read together the diploma validating the young girl's performance. He hadn't seen his children for four long days and he was in a hurry to spend time with them again. So many times he had just called in, had a warm meal and left again. He had hardly had the time to kiss his children and Francesca before having to leave again. The worksite was very demanding and Adam didn't often manage to find the time for his family. As he came into the house, he stopped when he heard some voices shouting :
«I've been standing up for most of the night, I don't have any patience for tantrums and moanings, if you carry on like that, you'll find yourself sent to your room, Luke ».
The main culprit went upstairs to his room whilst the other child went back to his game. Adam hung his hat on the wall, took of his jacket and unbuckled his gunbelt. He came closer and as he didn't know what the fuss was all about, he chose a neutral tone to announce himself. With a touch of humour, he invited himself to join in the discussion :
«Would Mrs Cartwright be at the end of her tether ?
Laughter is usually a good way of curbing anger and frustration. But Adam's words came too late, she had already lost her calm and anger was rising inside her. Her belly was knotted and her shoulders tense. The anger was taking over her body and making her like a puppet; unable to think for herself, or control her feelings.
« Adam, you were absent three times two weeks running, I had to deal with things from day to day. Benji was unwell, I was kept awake for two nights, he was sick. And as if it wasn't enough, I had to go and see the school teacher because that little rascal had been caught twice on the Bannister's house roof.
Adam staggered slightly because of the sudden flow of words that his tender wife had flung at him.
«Oh, I see », he answered in a surprisingly calm voice. « I know what I've got to do . Emmanuel, you and I will have a little necessary talking to in the barn. Go on, in front, I'll follow you ! »
Adam Cartwright, at that moment, was masterfully using his vocal qualities to the full, he had that strong deep voice corresponding to his body, a well-placed voice in which the low and the high notes mingled harmoniously, a warm tone, inciting powerful action, revealing a self-confidence in all circumstances. Adam Cartwright never strained his voice, he always controlled his voice, using deep rich tones. Everything about him exhaled calm and authority. He was unperturbed and determined. His hands were behind his back, before making for the door to go out, following in his nephew's steps, who at that moment was looking rather ill at ease. This control, this calm voice seemed to hide something else, Adam Cartwright was angry. A few minutes before, Emmanuel had had the impression that he could win over Francesca, he hadn't feared anything but right now things were differents. His uncle had only said a few words, but those words had really impressed the young boy. And he didn't really know what to expect. His uncle's voice had never sounded so seriously, he hadn't never been so severe. He had already seen him becoming angry with his kids, but he had never been at the receiving end of that anger. Emmanuel couldn't help shivering, that was the first time he really meant business. Emmanuel was quite sure he was about to get a good telling-off. *****
They were in the barn, alone. A handsome Adam, a giant Adam made Emmanuel feeling like he was a tiny mouse in front of a big cat ready to attack.
Adam was hauling him over the coals :
«If you ever do something like that, I'll give you a good spanking and I'll send a telegram to San Francisco; I'm not sure, your father will appreciate that... »
«I didn't do anything more than what he tried to do », the boy said, conscious that he had interrupted an adult.
«WHAT? »
Adam's reply was sharp, swift like a slap.
Emmanuel raised his eyes to the beams and started to move his arms, miming a big bird flying away.
«Yeah, I know that my Pa started to fly. So you can spare me the lecture. I just went on one roof. »
Emmanuel : One point, Adam : Zero, Adam told himself. He couldn't lecture him as he knew the great performances of his father.
«Alright, I acknowledge that. Keep it in your mind, don't ever do something like that, or I'll rip you to pieces. I'll leave the rest to your father, he'll tell you if he agrees or not with what you did », Adam replied firmly. He wondered who had told him about Hoss being a birdman. In the past, Hoss had tried to fly with wings.
*******In front of the barn.
Adam came out after his nephew, Emmanuel was relieved, he got off lightly. There was a luxuous buggey in the yard. Some visitors had arrived at the Ponderosa. Adam hastened and came into the ranch. He had a big surprise. There on the settee was a lady he knew only too well. The time had gone but the memories were still present. He looked at her, he was so surprised to see her here, in front of him, she was still gorgeous with her blond hair and her gait filled with charm and self-confidence. He remembered perfectly how many times she had seduced and charmed men, how many hearts she had broken. She was a devil in a dress, a flirting turtledove. Her parfume was misty, her neck and her shoulders were barely covered, her eyes were languishing, her smile was mischievous, she perfectly knew how to get what she wanted. When she had been with the Cartwrights, she had barely talked, she had danced and charmed a lot. She had been the queen of the night, a gorgeous woman she had been, a gorgeous woman she still was. This woman had already managed to bewitch him, he had tried to reason with her, he had lectured her to show her how wrong she was. That woman had tried to be a good girl, a well-behaved young girl in a dress which should let her appear as a serious young person. But Adam had lowered his guard as he had started to listen to her. In no time she had put her lips on his and had stolen a kiss. He hadn't managed to step back, because he had wanted to know. He had tasted the sweet lips which had been tasted by so many men before.