Have taken the advice from Chrissysmiles about talking with Cathy about her problem, but have left Ben to do this on Adam's behalf.
Chapter 15
Ben and Hoss were just starting their breakfast when suddenly there was a yell from Cathy as she raced down the stairs and landed awkwardly, twisting her ankle. Ben rushed over to see what damage had been done.
"Are you hurt, Cathy?"
"My ankle," she said, as tears started to form. "I hurt my ankle, Grandpa."
"We'll see to it, but I don't think there'll be school for you today. Hop Sing," he yelled.
"Yes, Mr Cartlight, I bring breakfast pletty quick, no need to yell."
"Hop Sing, we have a problem. Cathy fell on the stairs and has twisted her ankle."
"Oh, I get ice and bandage. Ice will stop swelling." And off he went to his domain to find the materials he needed.
"Sit here, Cathy." Ben said as he carefully lifted her up and carried her to the blue chair. "Ah, here's Hop Sing. He'll sort you out."
"Missy Cathy have ice pack put on ankle. Cold, yes?"
"Yes." She said, her face showing pain. "How long will I have to keep it on?"
"Until ice melts and then I'll put a tight bandage on it to aid you with walking."
"Thank you Hop Sing. I was running on the stairs."
"Yes, and you know the rule about running in the house. Now you know why we have that rule." Ben said in admonishment.
"Yes, Grandpa, sorry."
"Apology accepted. I'll bring your breakfast over to you here and by the time you've eaten it, we'll be ready to bind your ankle."
"Thanks, Grandpa."
At that moment Davy appeared and stared at Cathy.
"What you done?" He asked, looking closely at the ice pack on her ankle.
"I tripped and sprained by ankle."
"You weren't running, were you? You know the rule."
"Just shut up, anyway."
"Catherine, that's enough. You've been told before about speaking like that to your brother. Davy come to the table and have your breakfast."
From her chair, Cathy asked, "where's Pa this morning. I thought I'd see him for breakfast before he went off to work?" Cathy moaned.
"Sorry Darlin'. Your Pa has business in town and may be gone for a few days." Hoss said, trying to ease the situation.
"What's he doin' anyway?" Davy asked.
"Miss Grace has left Virginia City and your Pa wants to find out why." Hoss informed him.
"She's left?" Cathy asked with an innocent surprised look on her face. "But why has Pa gone after her?" She said with a sudden concern.
"I think you know why." Ben butted in on this conversation, knowing how much Cathy disapproved of Grace. Well she'll just have to get used to the idea of her father liking Grace, he thought. He sure hoped Adam would find her. He liked her a lot. Seemed very suitable for Adam. And maybe I should have a talk with Cathy. Ideal timing, he thought.
Later Hoss and Davy left to do their chores while Ben watched Hop Sing remove the ice pack and exchanged it for the bandage.
"Ow, that hurts."
"Solly, but it must be done. It will help ease the pain, but you not walk on it just yet. Give time to heal, okay?"
"Yeah, if you say so. Thanks Hop Sing." She said through gritted teeth as he finished the binding of her ankle.
"I happy to help." Hop Sing left them then.
Ben lifted Cathy out of the chair, sat in it himself and gently placed her on his lap.
"Cathy, darlin', I think it's time to have a talk.
"You're not goin' to spank me for running, are you?"
"No, darlin'. I mean we really have to talk about your Pa and Grace."
"I don't want to talk about her."
"You may not want to talk about Grace, but you're going to listen to what I have to say."
Cathy tried to get off Ben's lap, but he held firm.
"I know you don't like Grace, but I want to tell you there's room in your heart for a lot of people. You know, I keep a special place in my heart for each of my wives, whom I loved so dearly. But that hasn't stopped me from loving your Pa, Uncle Joe, Uncle Hoss and you and Davy. I love all of you and welcome each of you into my heart."
"Pa did talk to me before."
"He did, then you understand what I'm trying to say."
"But she'll take him away from me."
"Please use her name when speaking of Grace, it's very rude not to. Grace will not be taking your pa away. You're his family now and he loves you both so very much."
"But how can he love everyone?"
"I just told you about my late wives and how, even though they are not with me, I will love them always, no matter what comes my way in life."
"So you might marry again?" She was curious to know his answer.
"It would have to be someone very special."
"Perhaps the Widow Hawkins is the next one for you." She said, smiling.
"Now, Cathy, I like her as a friend and that's all."
"But…"
"That's enough, no more foolishment, as Hop Sing would say."
Cathy turned slightly and gave Ben a hug. "Sorry, Grandpa."
"That's alright. But I think a little more explaining is required. Ben paused before going on. "You loved your Ma and Pa, didn't you?"
"Of course, Grandpa."
"And have you forgotten them?"
"No, of course not. I remember them well."
"That's what I mean, Cathy. You remember them because you've kept them in your heart. You put them securely in a small room in your heart and then you added your Pa, Adam, into your heart as well, and then everyone here at the Ponderosa."
"Yes." Ben could see she was listening to what he was saying. "So you see, each of us can love others who become special to us and it does not mean a person has to stop loving, in order to make room for those we meet as we go through life."
"Are you telling me I should love Miss Grace, because Pa likes her?"
"Not exactly. First comes respect. You must give her a chance. Your Pa has strong feelings for her, I believe, and if he loves her that doesn't mean he'll love you any less. He's your Pa now and his love for you will never die. Just as I love my sons. I may be old, but loves never stops because of it. Give Grace a chance to love you, as I suspect she already does."
"She does! But I've been so bad to her…" She stopped herself from going on.
"But she knows the reason why and hopes to improve that situation, if I'm right about those two."
"So Pa's gone after her because he loves her?"
"Yes, I suspect so."
"So she could become my new Ma?"
"She could be. But your Pa has to find her first."
"Thank you, Grandpa. You've made me see how wrong I've been," and then under her breath, "will they ever forgive me?"
"Forgive you for what, darlin'?"
"Nothing, Grandpa. I meant for how I've been."
"I'm sure they will. I know they will. But for now you must rest your ankle. I want that better by the time they return. And I know they BOTH will return."
"Yes, Grandpa." She started to cry.
"What is it sweetheart?"
"Nothing, Grandpa. I love you." And then she curled up on his lap placing her head on his shoulder and cried. Ben held her close. She needs a lot of reassurance, especially from Adam, he thought. …..
When Adam reached town, he went straight to the library. There was a young teenage girl at the counter.
"Hello there." He said smiling at the girl.
"Can I help you sir?" She asked.
"Yes. Do you know where Grace Thomas is?"
"I'm afraid I don't know her. They took me out of school to help out, until they find someone to work here."
"I see, thank you. Do you know where Mr Morgan is. Is he around?"
"I haven't seen him here today, maybe you'll find him in his office across the way." She replied.
"Thanks again." Adam left and made his way to John Morgan's building and loan office.
"Morning John," he said as he entered the office.
"And a good morning to you, Adam. Can I do something for you?"
"Yes, I hope so. Do you know why Grace Thomas didn't turn up for work at the library this morning?"
"Yes. I, that is the board and I made a decision to cancel her appointment as librarian. We're now looking for a replacement. Mary Deacon was not willing to return in the meantime."
"Why was this decision made, especially without me, as a board member. You all seemed favourably impressed when we agreed to appoint her. What changed your mind?"
"Like you don't know!"
Adam was stunned. "What do you mean by that?"
"You tried to foist a criminal in our midst."
"What are you talking about?" Adam said, his anger rising.
"We found out about her criminal past as a thief and how she spent three years in prison as a result of her thievery. We certainly couldn't have a person like that working in our library, especially working with children.
"I swear this is news to me. Where did this information come from?" With that question, Adam's mind was in turmoil. Had she lied to him all along. But then there was Sam's grave. She hadn't made that up. Or had she? But the loan, that was real. Unless Arthur Mason was in it with her. But that can't be true. If it were, the money surely would have been a much higher amount. No, I believe Grace's story as Grace had told it. John Morgan was waiting patiently while Adam was going through his thoughts. "It's not true. I know her. And I'll prove it to you. Just give me some time."
"Very well, Adam. I'll wait, but don't build your hopes up. Maybe she fooled you all along," Morgan said and continued on with his work as Adam left his office, slamming the door on the way out.
He stood outside for a few minutes and took a few deep breaths before walking across the street towards Roy's office, when Clementine came running up to him.
"Adam, Adam," she cried, "I've found something out, but you're not going to like it."
"Don't tell me, I already know."
"Oh, you've seen Mary Fairweather then?"
"No, I haven't. What is it then that you're trying to tell me? I think we maybe talking at cross purposes."
"Well," Clementine began, "Mary Fairweather and some of her friends were having lunch at the café on Saturday and nearly everyone heard two young girls talking about Grace's past."
"Two young girls, who were they?"
"This is the part you're not going to like…," she hesitated.
"Tell me their names, Clementine. Although I have a horrible feeling I might just know who they are."
"You're right Adam…..they were… your Cathy and her friend Alice."
She has gone too far this time. He thought. She has committed a very serious offence. "Thank you, Clementine. I think you have solved the reason Grace left us."
"'Ow so?" she asked.
"I've just found out from John Mason that Grace was not allowed to enter the library and her new job. The board fired her before she even started. They had been told of her 'so called' past. It seems the gossips of this town worked fast, as was planned, I suspect."
"I'm so sorry, for both you and Grace. I just knew you had strong feelings for one another. What are you going to do now, Adam?"
"First, I'm going to have a chat with Jake over at the mercantile. My first priority is to find Grace and bring her home. Wish me luck."
"Oh, I do, I do, Adam. You need to get her back home where she belongs."
"Right, Clementine and many thanks for your help." He left her then for the mercantile to tell Jake of his daughter's conspiracy with Cathy.
After he related all that he knew to Jake, Adam stated, "I think you'll know how to deal with this, my friend.
Cathy will receive my full attention on my return but not the attention she will like. My first priority is to find Grace and bring her back to Virginia City. At the end of the day, when I get Grace back with us, I want both girls to make a public apology in front of the town, and they will do it, I guarantee." The town will know of the punishments they will have received along with their apologies."
"I agree, Adam. This was a despicable act. I will deal with Alice and demand to know what exactly was said.
Okay, Adam. I'll leave it in your hands. Good luck in your search."
"Thanks, Jake." Adam said, as he made his way out of the mercantile.
By this time the stage had arrived and he could see Roy was already speaking with Bill Hawkins, the driver. He rushed to join them.
"Hi, Bill. What can you tell us." Adam asked.
"Well, as I just told Roy, she got off at Goat Springs. Never went on to Carson. I guess the only one to know where she went from there will be Dave." Bill told them.
"Right, that's where I should start." Adam agreed. "I'll take the next stage to Carson City and get off at the way station and speak with Dave and go from there."
"At least Grace appears to be leavin' a trail of sorts, whether on purpose or not." Roy added.
"Yeah." Adam concurred. "I might as well get an early lunch while I wait for the afternoon stage and get a letter off to home, telling them where I've gone." He was just about to walk away, "Oh Roy, you might want to talk with Clementine. Tell her I said it was okay to tell you what we have learnt about the whole situation and the reason Grace left us."
"I'll do that, Adam. And thanks Bill for the information. It does give us a start."
"Yeah, thanks Bill."
"Yur welcome. And good luck with your search."
With that Adam made his way to get some lunch and a much needed cup of coffee, although a stiff whiskey wouldn't have come amiss.