Chapter Eleven

When the buckboard rolled in to town, Adam and Shiloh didn't notice people stopping to watch at first. But as they got closer to Mr. Cass's store, Adam saw Shiloh's hand search for his, and when he looked at her, she was looking around them, having noticed they were being observed closely.

Shifting the reins to one hand, he grasped Shiloh's hand and squeezed. "Sweetheart?"

"Adam, everyone is watching us."

Adam looked to the sidewalk on either side of town. A group of men had walked out of the saloon carrying their mugs of beer, while pockets of women gathered here and there, whispering back and forth to each other.

When they passed Cass's store, Shiloh turned back to Adam. "Where are you going?"

"Roy's office."

After he stopped the buckboard, Adam reached up for Shiloh and set her down on the street next to him, then took her hand and led her up the steps in front of the sheriff's office. He knocked on the door and opened it, finding Roy sitting at his desk.

"Adam, Mrs. Cartwright, what brings you here?" asked Roy, standing.

"Roy, is that police officer from San Francisco still here?" asked Adam.

"He is. He's leavin' on the noon stage today."

"Did he talk to anyone while he was here besides us?"

"As a matter of fact, he did. He spoke to the ladies that were at the dress shop the day Miss Peterson and Mrs. Cartwright fought."

Shaking her head, Shiloh looked downward in disgust. "The head of the Virginia City Gossip Society."

"Somethin' wrong Adam?"

Leading Shiloh back to the door, Adam looked back at Roy. "Nothing you can do anything about, Roy." He tipped his hat on the way out the door. Once Shiloh was back up on the seat of the buckboard, Adam climbed up and turned the buckboard back toward Cass's store. "Shiloh, if you don't want to stay, we can get the supplies and go home."

She smiled and patted his leg. "It's alright, Adam. People are going to talk about me every time my name appears in the newspaper because of my performances. I may as well get used to it. Maybe we could talk to Sam Clemens. If he'd write the story, Virginia City could hear it from us instead of Mrs. Gable, who I'm sure only got bits and pieces from Officer Riley."

Adam winked and pulled back on the reins, stopping the buckboard in front of the store. "We'll give Mr. Cass our order, then walk down to the Enterprise."

Will Cass saw the buckboard pull in front of the store, but waited behind his counter until the Cartwrights came in. "Mr. Cartwright, Mrs. Cartwright, what can I do for you today?"

"Will, why the formality?" asked Adam.

Cass dropped his eyes to the counter, nervously shuffling his order book. "That business about Miss Peterson. The whole town has heard that Mrs. Cartwright was accused of killing her."

"Now Will, you know better than to listen to gossip, and that's all it is. My wife was at the ranch when Miss Peterson was killed."

"That's not all, Adam. There's this business about the senator."

Glaring, Adam asked, "What about the senator?"

Cass pulled a San Francisco newspaper from under the counter, handing it to Adam. While Adam read, Shiloh stood back wearing a troubled frown. When he raised his head and looked out in front of him, Shiloh slipped the paper out of his hand, walking to the far side of the store to read. Scandal…love triangle…power struggle…reputation of an actress….

Adam watched her shoulders slowly slump as she read the article. "Will, surely you know none of that is true," he said in a low voice.

"Well, she was involved with him."

"She ended that courtship before she left Boston. She was with me then entire time we were in San Francisco, and if there is a power struggle, Stewart is fighting himself." Adam turned to collect Shiloh and leave, but turned back around. "And she's not an actress. She sings." He took the newspaper from Shiloh, laying it on a counter, then took her elbow and guided her to the door. "We'll be back in a few hours to load the wagon."

Once outside, Adam laid her hand on his arm and walked her toward the Territorial Enterprise office. Walking close to his side, she remained a half step behind him until he pulled her forward. "You've got nothing to be ashamed of, Shiloh. Hold your head up. If you shy away from them, they'll think you have something to hide."

"I don't think I've ever felt so humiliated."

Adam stopped and faced her, sticking his thumbs in his gun belt. "Shiloh, where's the determination you've always had to prove people wrong? This is no different."

Avoiding his eyes, she said, "As much as I try, it's not getting any better. People are just too willing to believe the worst."

He raised his hands to the sides of her face and kissed her forehead. "There will always be people like that. And they'll be quicker to believe anything that's written now that your name is Cartwright. There are people who don't like us. The only person you have to answer to is you."

"And what about you?"

"I know the truth about you. That's why I fell in love with you," he said, giving her a loving smile. "Now, let's go talk to Sam, and then we'll have a lunch at the club."

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and walked with her head high to the Enterprise offices where Sam was waiting for them at the door. "I heard you were in town and thought you might pay a visit to, uh, set things straight." Holding out his hand, he said, "Adam, how are you?"

"I'm well, Sam," he responded, taking Sam's hand.

"And you, Mrs. Cartwright?"

"Sam, that sounds so stodgy coming out of your mouth. I'd like to think we're friends."

"That's fine by me, if it's alright with your husband," he said, looking back at Adam, who snorted and smiled.

"And do I understand that you're Mark now?"

"To you, dear lady, it's still Sam as it is with all my close friends. The rest of the world can call me Mark. Why don't you two step into my office and tell me everything? We'll put a halt to the gossip."

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Mort Williams stood back in the shadows of the alley that had become his favorite place to watch Virginia City go about its day. Barrels and crates sat the entrance, hiding his presence, and it was easy to get comfortable while avoiding curious eyes. Setting himself up across from the International House, he watched as Will Stewart arrived, wearing pinstriped black trousers, white shirt, black vest and gray hat; a departure from the suit that screamed senator or city attorney. He rode in on horseback, wearing a gun, and not a soul recognized him. The ruse was completed by his registration at the hotel as David Reynolds.

Will Stewart wasn't the only stranger in town that had escaped everyone's scrutiny. This stranger was sitting on a chair outside the Sazerac, watching every move the Cartwrights made.

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Seated in an alcove of the club, Adam watched Shiloh as he ordered their lunch. "You seem to feel a little better," he said after the waiter left the table.

Looking around at the people there, she said, "You find out who your friends are when you're a public figure, don't you? Only, I didn't start with as many friends as you."

"You're not going to go all the way back to your school days, are you? That's ancient history. Look around. These people are under scrutiny all the time. There are people in town who resent them, and though some of them might deserve it, they don't let it ruin their day."

"Are you saying I shouldn't care what people think of me?"

"No, I'm not saying that at all. What I am saying is that you can't win everyone over. There will always be someone who doesn't like you, either for your fame, your money, your talent…"

"Or that I stole Adam Cartwright right from under their noses," she said, grinning.

Grinning back, he said, "I had to belong to someone before you could steal me, and I assure you, I did not."

Shiloh placed her napkin on her lap and twirled the glass of wine that had just been poured for her. "Adam, what would you say if I said I wanted to stop performing?"

He had just taken a sip of wine, then set the glass back on the table and leaned back, considering her. "That's the second time you've brought that up since we've been home. Sweetheart, don't you want to give it a chance?"

"It would seem that the worst part of my reputation comes from that. Doesn't that bother you; that your wife is seen that way? Doesn't that embarrass you?"

Leaning forward, he took her hand. "Not in the least. I know what was written in the newspaper isn't true. And a Cartwright doesn't bend to everyone else's whim. If you quit, it has to be because you don't enjoy it any longer…not because some faceless people don't like you."

After the waiter delivered their food, Shiloh studied her plate and said, "Adam?" He looked up with eyebrows raised. "I was telling you that I wanted to teach another person to train horses."

"Mm hm."

"I'm going to teach Tommy," she said, glancing up.

Adam stopped in mid-chew, put his fork on his plate, and wiped his mouth. "Tom Baker?"

"Johnny said he did very well while we were away, and he took it upon himself to take care of the horses in the south pasture while Johnny was at the Ponderosa. He said Tommy had a way with the horses…that he was very gentle with them. He's done everything that's been asked of him and more." She looked hopefully at him, but he was still frowning. "Adam, he took a bullet for us."

"Aren't you afraid that anyone outside the family you teach might venture out on their own?"

"We could have him sign a contract that he won't do that…or share it with anyone else."

"And you think that would stop him?"

"I don't think that he would, but even if he did, we'd have legal recourse. Besides, I don't have any illusions that someone else won't figure this out eventually. I'm counting on our reputation to sustain us."

"I'll think about it."

She twisted her mouth. "I'm not asking permission. The horses are mine."

He sighed and said, "Eat your lunch," then leaned forward to finish his.