Chapter Twelve
Adam and Roy had visited with Mary Ellen. It had not been an easy or pleasant task; sadly, it was necessary though. They weren't surprised when Mary Ellen broke down crying; however, they were shocked to hear Mary Ellen pretty much curse her brother's name. She'd then said he'd cheated death too many times to expect to continue holding the winning hand. After the visit Adam had went straight home.
Adam and Sadie were now at the lake; he stood behind Sadie, his arms wrapped around her waist holding her close to him. Bob, who was now walking while holding onto things, was attached to their legs and making circles around them. Adam was sure the lad would make them dizzy as he'd been doing it non- stop for a good three minutes. However, he had to check his ears when the young child titled his head upwards and said, "Mama… Dada."
Sadie felt awkward as she heard the words come out of her son's mouth, and turned to face Adam. She meant to apologize only to find Adam grinning from ear to ear, letting go of her and bending over to pick Bob up. "Out of the mouth of babes," Adam winked at Bob and then turned to his left. Hoss and his girlfriend, a young red headed gal named Teresa (the two had agreed to go on a double date to celebrate Matthew being out of their lives) were now fishing far enough away they had not heard what Bob said…but close enough for Adam to holler and be heard without a problem. "Hoss, Teresa! Would you watch Bob for us? Maybe, even take him home with you when you leave?"
Hoss and Teresa started smiling at each other and doing their best not to laugh. They'd had a private bet on how long it would take his brother or Sadie to ask them such a thing. Within minutes, Bob was with Hoss and Teresa, while Adam and Sadie disappeared through the trees. After they'd walked for quite a ways, Adam and Sadie stopped. From where they were they could see still see the lake; they could even see Hoss and Teresa playing with Bob…though they looked like moving dots more than people.
Adam finally broke the silence that had fallen between them the moment the two had walked away from the trio. "Marry me, Sadie." Adam took a hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes. He could see how nervous she really was. He asked again, only this time he pulled her a little bit closer. "Marry me and be my wife."
Sadie felt her heart pounding and her head swirling. Ever since Adam had kissed her in the buggy, she'd known she'd wanted to hear those words. Only problem was, now since she had, she found herself unable to speak. Maybe, because a part of her thought, he was only asking because of her son and his promise to Robert.
When she didn't answer, Adam seemed to look into her eyes and read her concerns. Adam whispered as he kissed her forehead, "I'm not asking because of Bob, Sadie." He then moved his mouth to her cheek, sending slight tremors down her spine. "And, I'm not asking because of the promise I made to Robert." He then moved his hands upward and placed them on each side of her face and tilted her head backwards, and growled softly, "I'm asking because I'm hopelessly in love with you and want to share my life with you. Say yes; say you'll marry me." He covered her mouth with his and kissed her slowly and gently, though the kiss deepened as time passed by.
"A...Adam, I…" Sadie swallowed hard when Adam pulled away and repeated his statement. "I think we need to go back."
Adam was crestfallen. She wanted to go back without answering him? In his eyes that could only mean one thing…she wanted to say no, but couldn't bring herself to do it. He forced a smile upon his face, determined to continue courting her, and get her to agree to be his wife someday.
However, his heart skipped as beat and soared when Sadie smiled, winked and explained. "Bob won't like his stepfather being gone too long." She laughed when Adam realized what her comment meant. Adam smiled, taking in her scent before pushing her gently up against the tree.
"My stepson will be just fine." Adam whispered low, as he lowered his mouth and began kissing Sadie with more passion than he'd allowed in the past. The sounds of the birds started fading away as he allowed his hands to wander and caress Sadie's body.
When it came to Sadie, she was fighting with herself. As before, Adam awakened feelings in her that she thought for sure would never see the light of day again. She didn't want it to stop, but she also had her standards; the ones she'd always lived by. The fight inside might have continued, only she felt Adam's hand move from her sides to her abdomen and then make its way up to her chest. She knew if she they didn't stop things that very moment they'd be getting better acquainted sooner than either one of them needed too. "P…pl…please, A...Adam," She forced herself to let go of him and slid her hands between herself and the man she intended to marry. "N..not now, n..ot like th…is." She was trying to talk in between her quickened breath; it wasn't easy.
Adam let out a small groan and stepped away. She was right. They needed to wait. Getting a hold of himself, he took her hand and started back in the direction they'd come. Though, this time he and Sadie began tossing wedding dates around, along with the act that neither one of them thought it would be wise to wait too long. They were both sure that if they tried that one they would slip up, and Ben Cartwright would be holding a shotgun wedding for both of them.
Epilogue
Adam and Sadie laughed as they raced towards the cabin Adam and built; it sat not two hundred yards from the lake. They'd been married that morning and made yet more promises to each other. They then had a reception a few hours after. Now, after leaving Bob with Adam's family, they would be spending two weeks out by the lake. Sadie, who had beat Adam to the cabin, acted as if she was going to leave again only to find Adam by her side and holding her up against the cabin. He was still smiling as he chided her for starting the race before he'd counted to three. "So, punish me." Sadie quit laughing as she looked at Adam; a look of seduction was in her eyes.
With that one look, Adam found someone reaching in and turning the heat up. "I think I shall." He growled loudly as he lowered his head and let his hands wander. This time Sadie wasn't arguing in the least. By the time the two lay down upon the porch, lost control of themselves and began riding the waves of passion that engulfed them, Sadie was more than grateful she'd listened to Robert, traveled to Nevada and found Adam…and Adam would be forever glad he'd kept his word to his friend. Their promises were something neither Adam or Sadie would ever regret keeping.
