Telegrams. 5th Story in the Alexandra Series.
Summary: You wanted to know the why, the when and the how Alexandra came about. Well here it is. Adam receives a wire from San Francisco. He embarks on a journey with Alexandra to bring Katherine home one way or another. He recalls the events of the past along the way.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza, or any of its characters. David Dortort and Fred Hamilton created them and played with them for 14 years. The series is owned by NBC.
Warnings: Physical discipline of a minor by a parent.
Recap… Alexandra is visiting with Katherine in hospital and telling her all about her adventures at the Ponderosa.
"They are very good pictures, Alexandra," said Katherine as she ran her hand over the images.
"Yep dad says I'm a good drawer, jist like him, and then you is too. You were always a good drawer momma, remember."
Katherine nodded. "I remember painting sets and backdrops; of villages of boats and forests…"
"Did ya ever paint the ocean momma or maybe a meadow with a lake?"
"Hmm, maybe yes I think I did once. I remember the sky took up half the backdrop. The lake was as blue as cobalt and the grass was covered in tiny little flowers. I remember each and every petal, now when I come to think of it; yellow, then orange then white. They shimmered in the sun."
"Sounds jist like our Lake momma."
"Alexandra's meadow?"
"Yep ," smiled Alexandra.
Chapter 21: Down Memory Lane
Sister Bernadette arrived at the door with a bedside tray interrupting their laughter. "Time for you to have some lunch, Katherine."
"Oh I'm not really hungry," said Katherine.
"I know, but you must try to eat something. You need to get stronger," coaxed Sister Bernadette.
Alexandra watched her mother screw up her face, she was sure she looked that too, especially when Hop Sing served up carrots. "Hey Momma, ifin you eat something I'll eat with you."
"You can have half of mine Alexandra," said Katherine.
"No," said Sister Bernadette. "I'll get Alex a tray, but you need to eat your meal, as much as you can. Alexandra would you like something special, what about a ham sandwich?"
"Can I have jist some fried rice. Yer can put jist about anything with it. Hop Sing our cook, puts the rice and ham or bacon and vegetables, that he cuts up real fine, he adds some lemon grass pepper and some yummy spices. Can I have that ifin it's not too much trouble, Sister."
"I'd like to try some of that too," said Katherine.
Sister Bernadette smiled. "I think I can arrange that. I'll be a few minutes, so why don't you start on your broth Katherine."
"Good idea Momma, and while yer eating I can tell you more about home. Wait until yer taste that fried rice, it probably won't be as good as Hop Sing's, but ifin the sister can get it as half as good, well momma you'll want more and then grow strong."
Katherine picked up her spoon and started to sip at the beef broth the Sister Bernadette had bought in. Sister Bernadette smiled and returned to the kitchen to talk to the cook. They were lucky that Saint Marys was fairly new, and had only a few patients. Many of the other wings of the hospital were still under construction. They had a men's ward, a women's ward and a surgery, as well as a kitchen. The children's ward was almost finished, it really just needed a coat of fresh dry rock and then paint. The cook was bound to try Alexandra's idea. She was happy when she could make something that would be easier for sick patients to digest and get the nutrients they needed as well as take the boredom out of serving only broth to patients that weren't ready for anything more solid.
"I remember your Daddy talking about Hop Sing all those years ago, he came to help them all when…" Katherine looked up trying to remember names, did she remember this right or had she imagined it.
"Yeah Hop Sing's been there fer a long time momma. He came ta help jist before Uncle Little Joe was born. And, he's still there, even though he threatens ta go back ta China jist about every second day. But, he won't, cause he's one of the Cartwright's even though his name is Mr Hop Sing, but he's a Cartwright and everybody knows so. I call him my smiley Uncle… he smiles all the time. Even when he's cussing in Chinese; he looks like he's' smiling. He makes the best vittles', not jist Chinese food either; he makes cakes and doughnuts and everything. I done a picture of him too."
Alexandra showed Katherine a picture of the friendliest oriental face Katherine had ever seen.
"One time for Grandpa's birthday he made the biggest carrot cake, and little George done ate it, and even though he was mad he still smiled at the end of the day. He even went mad at the Cartwright boys, for funning with me and bein' a bad influence on me… I thought he done cooked up Jasper, my pet chicken. Here momma I made yer a head dress out of a couple of her feathers. They come out when Hop Sing done chased her out of the garden, but I got the big ones when he done chased her out of the house jist before Grandpa's birthday…
Adam called out, "Hop Sing, Hop Sing what's happened?"
Hop Sing came running into the big room, only he weren't alone; Grandpa's top hat ran in front of him. There it was, Grandpa's good dress oprie hat, with scrawny chicken feet running around the big room. It had pushed its head through a big hole in the top. It was tryin' it's best to get away from one very irate Chinese cook with a hatchet in his hand. Dad scooped up the hat and the chicken and held it close and tried to sooth it…
"Hop Sing, why is a chicken wearing Pa's good opera hat?" asked Adam.
…Hop Sing stopped yelling; he just stood there and looked at me, they's were all looking at me. "Promise ya won't get mad? I asked, then went onto explain….
I got Jasper from the chicken pen. She's the most beautiful hen, her red and brown feathers with the little flecks of black and yellow. Like the feather bowers the chorus girls used to wear. So, I figured I'd do one trick with Little George in daddy's cowboy hat and the next trick with Jasper in the top hat. I could swap the hats around as I was doing the trick, which would be a distraction, which helps with the magic. But it didn't work out the way I was a hopin'.
As I tapped the top hat, daddy's hat fell over my eyes, and Ta Da… Crack… my magic wand put a hole in the top of grandpa's hat. Jasper got frightened and started run around the box, so I grabbed the hat and held the rim down so he would stop moving and next thing ya know "Ta Da" his head popped out through the hole. It was a really neat trick; I coulda used it, but…"
"But, poor Jasper is now stuck in a hat," surmised Katherine.
Sister Bernadette appeared with two small bowls of fried rice. She replaced the broth with the two bowls, and was happy to see that while listening to Alexandra Katherine had consumed almost of it. She made a point not to interrupt the conversation, although she was curious, so she stayed by the door and listened to the little girl share her stories much to the delight of her mother.
Both Katherine and Alexandra took a spoonful of the soft rice dish.
"See momma tastes good don't it. It's a bit softer than Hop Sing would cook it, but that's probably best fer ya. Hop Sing always lets me eat soft food when I gots a sore throat. He adds an egg to it too. So ya can imagine when that Jasper was running around scared outta its wits, he weren't none too happy. See chickens when they get something upsetting them don't lay. Well that made everyone mad and of course me afeared for Jasper's future..."
"I suppose he lost all these feathers with you chasing him around the room," asked Adam.
"No that weren't' jest me, that was Hop Sing, too. He was chasin' me and Jasper was trying to get away, because well, you see… I heard Hop Sing close the bath house door, so I had ta hide Little George and Jasper. I put little George in your hat in the corner, but while my back was turned Jasper took off, hat an all. Well, Hop Sing was about to come through the door any minute and I couldn't get Jasper outta the hat, so the big boiler was there on the ground and I put Jasper, hat an all, into the big empty pot and put the lid on. Then Hop Sing, he came into the kitchen and put the boiler up onto the stove. The stove weren't hot, but he was gonna put some wood on it and light it. He said he needed to boil up some more water. Well, I sure thought that he was gonna cook poor ole Jasper so I done yell," No, No, Hop Sing." But, before I knowed it was too late and he lifted off the lid of the big boiler pot and Jasper done squawked real loud atta him. He tried to jump out and scared Hop Sing so bad that he jumped. The lid he was holding sorta flew in the air and hit all the pans and pots that were hanging on the rack, then the rack fell down and all the post fell down, and nearly bumped Hop Sing on the head. And that's when Hop Sing lost his calm."
"He's not the only one, Alexandra," said Adam.
…Daddy spanked me fer being rude ta Hop Sing, but I didn't mean ta be mean about him bein Chinese juts that I thought he was gonna cook Jasper. Hop Sing got mad at daddy for spanking me, cause he said that the big boys were always joshing and funning with him, and what little girl supposed ta do when them supposed be role models. Hop Sing has all these Chinese proverbs that he says ta make people think. I remember him saying...
"Be not sad at being misunderstood, be sad at not understanding. Now stop talking. Get ready for party, set tables, Start spit, and PUT CHICKEN AWAY! Make sure father no find. If he do, Hop Sing tell him, you play trick, little girl get no more spankings today!
Uncle Hoss snapped his fingers then. "Dang it! I hate it when he's right." he said.
Daddy done nodded his head. Uncle Hoss don't seems real smart sometimes but he sure is wise and Daddy listens to him. "I hate it when he's right too!" Said Adam. "We better hide that chicken in the hat, but if Pa finds it…"
"We'll blame it on Joe!" laughed Uncle Hoss. Then they both took off laughing.
Later that night at Grandpa's birthday party, Hop Sing appeared from the kitchen carrying the biggest birthday cake ya ever did see. Everybody gathered around to sing and watch him cut his cake and make his speech. He thanked everybody for their best wishes and gifts and he made a particular point of congratulating Hop Sing on the magnificent spread he had prepared and presented. That's when I noticed the cake and then some other people did too; the birthday cake that Grandpa was about to cut, was moving. Well, not all of it just some of it. Grandpa went ta cut it, but I yelled out. I mean I figured where Little George had got too; see I lost him in the kitchen when Hop Sing was chasin' Jasper around. Guess he found the biggest carrot cake in the world, what rabbit wouldn't stick around for that. So I yelled at grandpa, but yelling out didn't help none…
"Wait!"
…Uncle Hoss noticed the moving lump making its way to the crust of the cake. Thrusting his hand into the cake, he grabbed the lump and pulled out my small furry friend all covered in cream and coconut.
Most of the guests went "aohh, ohhh, nooo," oh dear and so forth. But as Uncle Hoss wiped the cream from the little critters fur, they all stated belly laughing. Well, not all, Mrs. Wilburn made some nasty remarks about the manners of the Cartwright sons and their stupid servant. She is this big nose sticky nose big bum of a town gossip, though she done got a bit better now, momma.
Dad come over ta me. I think he thought I was gonna do something unpleasant ta the mean old lady; well as a matter a fact I was, but then I needed ta save Little George too. Unfortunately for dad, he stepped into some of the cream that was on the floor, and slipped and fell. He grabbed for Grandpa's arm as he went down, but caught the edge of the table and took the table cloth with him. The food went sliding towards the edge and as Dad hit the floor the sudden jolt and tug on the well pressed table cloth catapulted the rest of the food through the air like a cannon ball on Founders Day. The cake pieces went everywhere, which also included Mrs. Wilburn's rather big bosoms' and Daddy's Yankee granite head.
I ran and slid under the table in search of Little George, but he was nowhere there. I looked in horror when I spotted three roast chickens, laying on the floor. One of them had two very beautiful red and brown feathers stuck to its glazed sticky skin, jist like Jasper. I didn't know Daddy and Uncle Hoss had taken him away, I though Hop Sing must of've cooked her up cause she couldn't lay eggs no more... So I cried and took her outside ta give her a decent Christian burial…
"I'm sorry Jasper, ya can't blame Hop Sing, It's my fault ya got stuck, I didn't mean ta hurt ya I just want ta make ya a star. You were a very good magic chicken."
…That's when Daddy and Grandpa and Hop Sing, Uncle Little Joe and Uncle Hoss came and found me, and told me everything was alright. I thought fer sure I'd spoiled Grandpas birthday. But, momma, he's jist the perfect Grandpa; he done forgive and told me that it was the best birthday he ever had with me being there an all … Well I don't think he was happy about his good oprie hat.
"My Hat… you boys… that's … that's my good opra hat, what in tarnation!" Grandpa bellowed.
"Happy Birthday Pa," said Adam. "It was a surprise from Alexandra," he smirked.
…Grandpa went all red in the face and I was sure he was gonna bellow some more, then everybody jist busted up laughing even Hop Sing. Grandpa's good oprie hat was upturned and tucked into a wooden box, stuffed with fresh yellow straw, with a very relaxed and colourful Jasper asleep inside. Curled up beside him was a fatter Little George; ma rabbit. The biggest belly laugh came from Grandpa, as he spotted a freshly laid egg sitting in his two hundred dollar silk top hat. I was so relieved that Jasper had not met an untimely end…
Hop Sing picked up Alexandra. "See, Hop Sing not cook Jasper today. Thinking might have rabbit stew for lunch tomorrow, though.
"No you ain't Hop Sing."
"Ah, only joking little girl. Time for you to go to bed. Been vely long day."
Alexandra turned to her grandpa. "Hope you had a very special birthday Grandpa. I'm sorry if I spoiled it for ya."
"You didn't spoil it Alexandra. I've never had so much fun in my life."
By the time Alexandra had finished her story Katherine had finished her lunch. Sister Bernadette laughed, she only heard part of the story but Alexandra could tell a tale full of wonder and animated delight. She started to walk over to get their bowls when a gentle hand tapped her on her shoulder.
"Leave them be Sister," said the Monsignor. "This is just about the best therapy your patient could get."
Sister Bernadette, looked at Adam and the doctor. "Your little girl sure knows how to tell a story," said the young nurse.
"She sure does. I'd say she's not finished yet either," said Adam. "She's been saving up for this visit a long time."
All three now waited quietly at the door and watched as Alexandra continued.
"I remember Ben, he looked after momma and me, helped us get away, before I knew I was having you. How old is he now?'
"He's only fifty five momma, but he's grey as ever. Dad reckons that Uncle Little Joe sent him grey."
"You haven't finished telling about how the meadow got named after you."
"Oh, yeh but did ya still want ta hear about my time in the klink?"
"The prank; right, the Little George told you about."
"No Little Joe, momma,"
"That right the ones Little Joe told you about."
"It weren't jist one prank momma, it was a whole lot of them. See we did ask Uncle Joe, he's a mischievous, rambunctious, miscreant rapscallion," Alexandra screwed up her face with each description, "That's what Grandpa often calls him."
"All at once," asked Katherine, "He'd make a good ring master under the big top saying all that in one breath.
"Yes dad says sometime our families like working in a circus. One time, Uncle Hoss done bring home an elephant."
Katherine laughed. "I could just imagine. Hmm you are both a Cartwright and a De Foe Alexandra. My Grandfather, you were very little when we lived with the carnival people, Grandfather William use to call you a little rapscallion too."
"Well, that makes sense, cause he gave us some mighty good ideas, and we added some more of our own and …well we carried them out at the harvest dance. Thing is we caused some chaos at the dance, most of the pranks went jist as planned, ceptin we didn't think they would be all that much trouble. And the town's folk wanted a public flogging."
"Ohh even harsher, you were all jist kids weren't you?"
"Yep but some not so experienced bank robbers were robbin' the bank and our pranks had everybody running around like mad and the robbers nearly got away."
Sister Bernadette turned to Adam. "They put kids in jail in Virginia City"
"The sheriff just wanted to teach them a lesson. They did cause an absolute riot though," said Adam.
"Oh this should be good," said Sister Bernadette.
Sister Gabriel was going past the ward, looking for the Monsignor. "Monsignor, Judge Carey is here for his check-up. He apologised for being late."
"Oh good, will you come with me Adam? I believe that pretty young woman that came with you needs your combined help. You can talk to him while I examine him. Let's hope he has news about Maverick."
Adam and the monsignor left, while Sister Gabriel joined Sister Bernadette at the door.
"What's going on here?" she asked.
Sister Bernadette laughed and said, "The little girl is telling her mother stories about her life with her father. It seems to be helping with the patient's memory loss. This story is about when the little girl and her friends got put in jail, for playing a whole lot of pranks on the town's people."
"Oh this should be exciting." Both nurses got comfortable and stood quietly by the door.
Alexandra threw her arms out to explain. "Things woulda been alright too, cause we had a secret society and ifin one of us got caught we would keep mum about the others. Only problem was, we all got caught. And the worst things was; it was dad that caught us. We was all hiding in the bushes when dad came outta the dance hall with Miss Marty…"
Adam coughed, "Well if it had been the only prank they played tonight, it wouldn't be so bad,, however…" Adam straightened up and delivered a well-articulated and firm statement to those hiding in the bushes. "Harmless pranks are one thing, but causing out an out chaos is another." Adam walked over and pulled a loose thin limb from the tree. "Not to mention risking people's safety." Adam pulled out his small pocket knife and started stripping the limbs of its foliage. "Alexandra Willameena Cartwright, you have exactly to the count of three to get out here, along with your accomplice or accomplices'." Adam said as he swished the menacing looking switch in the air.
"I guess this is where I take one for the gang," I whispered.
"He'll let you explain it, won't he?" asked Josh.
"Hmm, maybe, you stay here he ain't expecting all of us ta be hidin' in here, I reckon."
Adams patience was wearing thin. "Alexandra, Joshua? I know you are both there, so it's ONE!"
"Come on Josh." I grabbed Josh's hand and rounded the bush, keeping clear of Dad's hand wielding switch. "Hey daddy, you and Miss Marty havin' a fine time?"
Adam turned his gaze to the two children and tracked them with his famous glare all the while, slapping the switch across his palm. "To some extent, Alexandra; Yes, but I'm predicting that life isn't going to be too rosy for you in the near future. Perhaps that isn't the correct use of that idiom, because if you don't start explaining quick smart, your backside is going to become very rosy and smarting indeed."
"Idiom, Dad? Is that like bein jist a downright stupid idiot?"
"In this case; yes, explain. NOW!"
I jumped as did Josh, but before we could open our mouths, Yuma and Roy walked out into the yard.
"Good you're here Roy, just in time to hear Alex and Joshua's explanation about all the pranks played tonight, ruining a perfectly good evening for everyone," Adam announced.
"Scaring their mothers half to death with polecats and swapping babies," added Yuma.
"Nearly helping some bank robbers get away with their folks good earned money. And postin' wanted posters with my face on them, though in some ways that ended up working in my favour; those danged Hunter brothers thought I was a petty criminal. Got me ta go in with them. I had the place staked out and ready ta take them as they robbed the bank. But, that danged polecat scared the bejesus outta everybody," grouched Sheriff Roy.
"Oh and what about the flyers offering Adam as a Cyrano de Bergerac …" pouted Marty.
"What?" Adam snapped turning his head to Marty.
"All the girls had them and that Jami Sue Cahill was getting a great kick out of it at my expense."
"Talking about expense; Hop Ling's a might angry about all them pink shirts too, Adam. It's gonna take him a week ta get them back to white not ta mention the extra cost fer him."
"I believe the musicians are not pleased either. The trumpet player had to exorcise his britches from the wooden chair. The night has turned rather chilly for him," smirked Yuma.
…With each statement Me and Joshua took a step backwoods. But Dad suddenly noticed from the corner of his eye. He don't need eyes in the back of his head momma either, he's got real good perineum vision…
"Not one more step, you two," he said, waving the switch in front of us.
…Joshua panicked. We had this call, jist in case of emergencies. All of a sudden the catch cry was heard…" Shing'wauk kanni… Run!
…Suddenly all the gang took off from the bushes. Josh met up with them as they all headed towards the back gate. I jist stood there shaking ma head, while Sheriff Roy, Adam and Yuma chased the children. Dad managed to grab Josh and tuck him under one arm, then crack the switch across Willy's backside, as he tried to skid past him. Willy yelped and pulled up suddenly to rub the searing sting from his rear end. Dad threw the switch away and picked Willy up tucking him under his free arm. By the time he had both arms full; Yuma had Lajoci also securely in his grasp, but was having trouble with Juliet. He had her by the tail of her skirt, and was trying to reel her in, however she ran around in circles with her petticoats flaring out and then twisting around Yuma's fingers, almost cutting off his circulation. Roy had Daniel by the collar, and shook him, then bellowed…
"Lydia Ann and Jessica you get yourselves back here now, or I'll be putting wanted posters out on you. They'll read "WANTED; skinned raw and alive."
Jess and Lydia stopped dead in their tracks, "do yer reckon he's serious," quivered Jess.
"Yes I do, besides, we can't leave the others to take all the blame," yielded Lydia Ann.
"Gee Lydia Ann, when did you get so decent?"
"Guess… I don't know… I like having friends, even if they do get me into trouble."
"How much trouble do yer think we're in?"
"Lots, maybe Alex can talk us out of the worst," hoped Lydia Ann.
"I hope so, come on: all fer one and one fer all." Jessica mumbled before walking back to Roy with Lydia Ann beside her.
…Lydia Ann use ta be ma sworn enemy, but she became good momma. All the chasin' stopped and we was all rounded up…
"First things first you lot. There's gonna be hell ta pay over these shenanigans tonight, so you gonna get in there and apologise to the whole town, afore I march you off to jail," declared Roy.
"JAIL!" we all yelled.
… So that's how I got put in Jail. And there was these two bad guys, well they weren't too real bad, they's ended up saving ma life when that Frank Garner-Hallet; that Frank Junior tried ta shoot me," explained Alexandra.
"What, Oh no… he found you? That's what I was afraid of, but then after a while I thought I had just imagined him." Katherine's tears welled up and she started to shake. Sister Bernadette started to move towards her, concerned for her anxious state. She stopped when she saw Alexandra climb closer to her mother, but watched carefully.
Alexandra put her arm around her mother's neck and kissed her cheek. "Don't cry momma, its okay. But ya didn't imagine it. I done saw him when he came ta you. I was eavesdropping. At first, I thought he was a ghost. But it turned out real good momma. It was kinda lucky that he did find me; that way we found out the truth and got you out of Jail. You know momma you didn't kill Darcy."
"I know, but it's my fault he tried ta save me. He was a brave boy … too young."
"Yeah momma, but that man could done killed a lot more people; including you. It ain't fair that Darcy's dead. Can't change that. But catching that Frank Garner- Hallet junior, meant that a lot people got ta find peace and got the truth about things. I weren't scared no more and Ted and Jake become heroes, for saving me. They's thought the sheriff Roy Coffee was a notorious outlaw so they got caught real good on their first bank job. They's were dumb at first, but brave in the end. I didn't think Ted liked me at first, cause he kept telling me ta shut up my first night in the jail….
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Had
Nobody knows de trouble I've had*
Nobody knows but Jesus,
Nobody knows de trouble I've had,
Everybody Sing…. Glory hallelujah!*
I sang and pressed ma face up against the bars, straining to hear Sheriff Roy in his office and silently going over the reasons for ma misery.
Ohhh ….
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Had
Nobody knows de trouble I've had,*
Nobody knows but Jesus,
Nobody knows de trouble I've had,
Everybody Sing…. Glory hallelujah!
"Hey kid shut the hell… UP!" yelled Ted from the last cell.
…I turned around and scowled at the older Hunter brother. The younger one, Jake, put his pillow over his head…
"Shush now, you'll go an wake up the gang again. You want Jess and Juliet and Lydia Ann ta start wailing their eyes outta agin?" I said.
"Aww, Sheriff, PLEASE, please get these kids outta here. This is worse than doing time in the state pen. Its torture you ole coot! Yer can't do this…" Ted almost begged.
"He can do this; he's tryin' ta teach us a lesson, so we don't end up like you. An ifin yer ain't careful he'll wash yer mouth out, cause hell's a cussing word, and don't think he won't, he done tanned our hides," I warned him.
"I know kid, I heard, and yer deserved it… PLEASE SHERIFF!"
Sheriff Roy ignored Ted's pleas. He sat back on his chair and wrapped his arms behind his head, figuring he'd give us kid's jist half an hour more before he'd get our parents.
"Alexandra? She is sure entertainin," ain't she yelled Roy back at the cells. "She can stir up you two idjits in there. Yer deserve every bit of annoyance the kid can create."
"Okay, Kid," said a very tired Ted, "You can't sleep; I get that, so tell me the rest of it. What happened afta the sheriff caught us, which I gotta admit was a purity smart prank, setting us up like that; thinking the Sheriff, was Bad Boy Roy.
… After that when the sheriff was walking from the court house Frank Hallet tried ta shoot me. Ted ran and threw himself on top of me. Dislocated my shoulder but saved ma life. He got shot, but Doc Martin saved him. And so… well I'll always like him forever."
"Me too," said Katherine.
"That's when we found your notes in ya book. And Frank Garner-Hallet confessed. That's what got yer free momma."
"You've all been working very hard to do that haven't you?"
"Ah Uh," nodded Alexandra. " I jist hope one day you'll be able to meet all these people, but in the meantime you got these pictures, and Jasper's head dress, and oh… look here I've got a picture of the house. Momma. This here's' my bedroom. Daddy done built the house before I was born, jist before he went ta college."
~oOo~
While Alexandra was continuing her story of the night of the pranks and her description of the Ponderosa ranch house, Adam, the Monsignor and Samantha were talking with Judge Virgil Carey.
"I'm sorry Miss Crawford I wish I could tell you more. The last time I saw Maverick was at the station last night. Wang had given him the details of a group of young girls he and his wife supposedly educated as brides within the Chinese community. Wang told him where he could find the girls."
"That's why he rushed off in such a hurry last night," added Adam.
"Yes. He went to the place, but somehow Wang's men had found out about his arrest and when Maverick arrived at the place there was no sign of any of the girls including the little one you are looking for. He came back to the station just after I'd arrived. We questioned Wang again. This time the man tried to bargain with us; said he could tell us where they were headed if we reduced his charges. He claims he didn't know Nichols was shipping gold to the enemy. He'd just offered to do him a favour and drive the wagon last night."
"You didn't believe that?" scoffed Adam.
"No, but I wanted to catch him on his other criminal activities. I said if we found the girls, including Jai, I would consider approving a plea deal with the prosecutors. He told us where they were heading. Maverick took off with some officers. I was late arriving this morning because the officers had returned with the girls. But, your little girl wasn't with them and neither was Maverick. The other girls told them that Jai had escaped. I can only surmise that Maverick went back to look for her."
Samantha sat down with a heavy sigh, concern etched on her face. "If anything happens to them, both of them, I think… I think... well I don't want to even think about it."
"I'd tell you not to worry, but the Chinese community here are pretty thick as it is; they don't let us in much, and of course the criminal element is bad and an unknown threat. The good people of the community are too scared to speak out or work against them. You need to have someone there to help you get around Chinatown."
"Hop Ming! Maverick would have gone to Hop Ming, Samantha. He'll help," said a confident and uplifted Adam.
"Well if he knows his around, he'll surely help," added the Judge.
"He has plenty of cousins that will help too. Their lot helped us years ago when a few of our men, including Pa, were shanghaied on the Barbary Coast. Hop Ming will help get them both back. Stay positive, Samantha."
"Sadly there is nothing we can do but wait," said the Monsignor.
"I'll go back to the patrol office and if I hear anything I'll meet you back here," said the Judge.
"You're not going anywhere until you've had that bandaged cleaned," announced the Monsignor. "Come on let's get back to the ward. Sister Gabriel is probably there, she is my best nurse when it comes to wound management."
"I'll come too," said Samantha. "Maybe I can help here, Monsignor."
"There is plenty you can help with, young lady. That and a prayer is the best you can do at the moment. And when we tire of that may you and I can practice our poker" Said the Monsignor with a grin.
"Ohhh, I thought I recognised you," smiled Samantha. "If I find Jai, I promise I'll never gamble again."
"Life's a gamble, Miss Crawford, however, some of the risks in your chosen career may need to be reviewed," laughed the Monsignor. "Come on, it's important we keep in good spirits. It's good for the soul and your health, believe it or not."
~oOo~
The monsignor was right, laughter was good for the soul and Katherine's health was benefiting from it as well. When they arrived at the ward there were three other hospital staff standing by the door listening to Alexandra Cartwright talking to her mother. Some of the onlookers had tears of laughter in their eyes and others tears of joy as Alexandra continued to bring items out of her bag and explain their significance. The two interacted and bought up old memories of their life together as mother and daughter. Alexandra was now giving Katherine new memories. The colour in the women's cheeks had risen, and though she appeared to be tired, she was still smiling as she lay back, looking and listening to her child lovingly.
Adam watched as Alexandra pulled the two final items from her sack. A black shirt and a bonnet; her green Bonnet with tiny little yellow flowers on it. Adam could have sworn that it was the one she had left on the calf they'd given to the Bannocks after her safe return from the mountain. They must have given it back to her. She hated the bonnet, why was she giving to her mother, wondered Adam.
"Momma, this here black shirt belongs to Daddy. Ifin ya smell it yer can smell his hair lotion and the staff he puts on his face when he shaves. But most of all yer can smell molasses and oats and his horse Sport and the pines of the Ponderosa. This here is ma bonnet. Grandpa bought it fer me. I hate wearing bonnets, Dad got me a hat; a cowboy hat, that matches these here boots of mine. Anyway, I give it to a little cow, and to these Indians fellas that took real good care of me and my friend Lajoci when we went ta find God. We found him, momma, we did, honest, though some people don't reckon he was. When me and Lajoci went ta see him we asked him for some miracles and well they happened. I asked him ta help us get you outta jail and well it happened didn't it? I thought the bonnet went with the calf to live with the Indians. But, one day, when I was really sad and thinking about you, I found the bonnet, up by the lake; in Alexandra's meadow. I didn't see it at first, cause it's got all these little yellow flowers on it and it was camouflaged in amongst all the grass. So when you look at these two things and smell them, you'll remember us. When yer start missin' us, just hold them and you'll remember Alexandra's meadow and the lake and feel like yer are there."
Katherine grabbed the two items and pushed them together and crushed them to her chest. "I think I can see it Alexandra. Your right. I can imagine it just the way you describe it."
"Smell them," encouraged Alexandra.
Katherine did just that, and tears came to her eyes.
"Gee momma," Alexandra turned around to those that had been watching. "Maybe she's allergic to them," said Alexandra to the nurse.
Adam saw Katherine's tears and strode quickly to the bedside. He picked up Alexandra and sat down depositing her on his lap. "No your momma's not allergic to them, she just likes them very much," said Adam and then kissed his little girl on the nose.
The Monsignor lightly tapped the other onlookers on the shoulder and shooed them back to work. He took Samantha to the kitchen, while Sister Gabriel took the Judge to the examination room to re-bandage his cuts and abrasions.
Katherine didn't intend to fall into a blabbering mess. She felt like she had been that way for far too long. For the first time in two years she had clarity and a strong sense of love and support. It was overwhelming, but uncannily calming. She smiled at the pair. "I hope she didn't steal this off you Adam, she does like to collect things."
"No she didn't steal it. Alexandra has had my black shirt there since our trip home from Elk. We were pretty new to each other then, but the shirt was Alexandra's way of accepting me; I think."
"It turned out well in the end, after she tried to shoot you?" laughed Katherine.
Adam appreciated the humour and the break in the emotional moment. "Not quite." He turned to Alexandra. "So you told your momma all about that time did you?"
"Not all of it, dad. I got to the part about me bein on Sport and shootin' the gun in the air; the one you thought wasn't loaded."
Adam leaned down and looked into her face, "But it was, wasn't it…
She then held it in the air and fired it. Xx x ###. Now, I was one very horrified and frightened father. At the sound of the gun shot, Sport flinched but remained on where he stood, propping and pivoting. I sent out a whistle. Sport pivoted again and started to trot back.
"Alexandra! Drop that gun." Alex continued to wave it around, rapidly pulling the trigger. This time, to my relief, our little rodeo star's gun had run out of bullets. I pitched another tune, and Sport picked up the pace and cantered back towards me and the lake.
"Whoa boy, whoa, whoa, you stupid son of a donkey ass hack!" yelled Alexandra.
I swear sometimes Sport has a human brain. He knows when I put my hand up to come straight to me, and that he did. However, his stubborn pride offered a creative extension to my silent command. He stopped dead in front of me, reared, dropped and pivoted in one smooth and fluid action, sending Alexandra sideways into the lake.
Alex landed butt first in about three feet of water. She immediately popped up out of the water spluttering, then let her temper fly.
"What the damn blazes are ya trying ta do? Kill me? What sorta' horse does that. You got him trained to kill or somethink."
"He's a cutting horse, Alexandra. He responds to certain whistles and signals in certain ways. He is trained to cut out naughty little stray calves, and now naughty little girls who try to take off like a bat out of hell. Naughty little girls that touch loaded guns! Now get out of there."
'He coulda hurt me!"
"Oh, you could have been hurt alright, but you're not. YET! So move."
"I ain't comin' out! You can't make me, Adam Cartwright. I've changed my mind; I ain't going with you. I'm going back to Molly, and I'm gonna wait for my momma. So even ifin' I can't ride ya rotten tricky old killer horse, I'm going back. Even ifin' I hafta walk all the way, an even ifin' I get lost, and wander round lost in the desert, with no water, and the Indians find me and take me in an raise me to be an Indian brave, that fights and stands to pee. If the soldiers find me, they'll, take me back to Molly and not some dumb old snobby girls' school. So I ain't commin out!"
I stood there, crossed my arms, and looked her straight in the eye. "Well, you're going to have to get out of the lake if you intend to walk anywhere." I took my boots off and started to wade forward determined to grab one obstinate nine year old and then, maybe, tan the living daylights out of her.
Alex was nervous, but that didn't stop her. She backed up slowly, splashing and slapping the water at me. "Well, I'll swim then. I'll just swim to the other side, course I never really swimmed before, but how hard can it be, fish do it. All sorts of fish can swim, small ones and big ones, like whales ceptin' they're not fish, just like seahorses ain't fish but they can swim. Maybe, I just rope me a cutting sea horse, ones that a might friendlier and don't go endangerin' little kids lives. I could call him…."
Then, down she went, swallowing half the lake as she still tried to yell. Within seconds I had dived and grabbed her floundering form. Swimming to shore she stopped fighting. I hauled her out of the water carrying her under one arm. Still spluttering and coughing, I marched to the log near the fire and sat down. Swinging Alex around I positioned her across my knees and proceeded to apply light rabbit punches to her back. She continued to spit and cough up half the lake that she had swallowed.
"Let me go! Ya killin' me!"
"Alex lay still. You've swallowed a lot of water."
"I don't care, let me up." Then she bit me on the thigh!
"Owe! Not smart Alexandra!" SWAT, SWAT, SWAT, SWAT, SWAT, SWAT AND SWAT. Those seven swats applied to a very small but wet bottom had Alex kicking, yelling and wailing. I stood up, still holding on to a now sobbing little girl, and grabbed a blanket. Going back to the log I sat again, this time sitting Alex on my knee.
"OWWWW, that hur…Hurts."
"Good! It's supposed to." I wrapped the blanket around both of us, pulling Alex closer to my chest and let her cry some more, before I spoke softly. "Now, we are going to sit here for a while, get warm, and clear up a few things. First of all, I love you very much, and no matter what I will always love you."
"Okay."
"Secondly, you are not going back to Molly."
"But, Molly…wants …me."
"Yes, Molly wants you, Molly loves you, but Molly also wants you to be with me. What did Molly tell you?"
"She told me to trust you…that you were my daddy …. That, you would look after me. She said you would make sure mommy was alright."
"And haven't I done that so far?"
Alex scrubbed at her eyes and dragged her palms down her tear stained cheeks. "…But, you're… going to send me away… to some snobby old girls' school"
"Alex, when you're bigger, you might want to go to a good school, just like I did. But that won't be for a long time. I won't make you go, not if you don't want to. I want you to stay with me for a long time."
'Okay. But, what about mommy? Ya gonna go get her?
"I can't Alex."
"You let them take her away. I saw you standing at the stage. You shoulda got a gun and shot them for taking her away."
"I couldn't shoot them, they were lawmen, Alexandra."
"Nobody's takin' me away. Molly and Mommy said they would never let anybody take me away as long as they were there."
"And, what did they say you should do if anything was to happen to them?"
"They said that I was only ever to go with Adam Cartwright. Find Adam Cartwright. He would keep me safe. Molly said you was very brave and very strong even when you was young….. is my momma dead?"
"No she's not dead. And, I can promise you that she will be looked after."
"Will she ever come back?"
"I don't think so, Alex. Maybe, if she gets better, but not for a very long time."
"So, I'm gonna stay with you until then?"
"Yep, because I'm your father. I haven't been a father before, just a big brother. But Hoss and Joe were very little when their ma's died and I helped my pa look after them. I will look after you, Alex, I want to look after you. Joe and Hoss turned out pretty good. They trust me. You have to trust me too."
"I don't know. I think ya overfed Uncle Hoss. Molly had a fish once. She kept it in a bowl in her room and you were only allowed to give it a little bit of food, otherwise it would grow outta the bowl, and someone would probably step on it , then they might slip and bust their as… bottom."
Alex must have been feeling better because she had started to go off on one of her little tangents.
"Come on, you're starting to shiver. Let's get you in some dry clothes. We can finish our talk after supper." I grabbed the saddle bags and Alexandra's small carpet bag. I helped her peel off her wet shirt and pants. "Alex where are your under britches?"
"Uh, oh, they were still wet from last night, so I left them to dry back where we was camped last night."
"Well, that is a bit of a shame."
Rubbing her bare bottom she said, "You're tellin' me, I coulda done with the extra protection."
"Yes well those smacks were for firing my gun, and to quote you, scaring the bjesus outta me."
Alex giggled. I wrapped the blanket around her. Her short blonde curls stuck to her head and I used the corner to dry them. "You know, Alex, you look kind of cute like this."
"Thems fighten words, Adam."
"Oh, Adam now am I?"
"Yeah, well, you been callin' me Alex."
"Oh, that's what the 'Adam Cartwright' is all about?"
"Molly and Momma always called ya that. Adam Cartwright this Adam Cartwright this. They never said your daddy this or your daddy that. I guess, I'm not sure whether you're my daddy yet."
"Your birth certificate says so."
"That's just a piece of paper."
"You're right. But, I would like you to call me something else besides Adam Cartwright or Adam."
"I could call you… hmm… Mr. Eyebrows?"
"Ha, ha. No"
"Mr Bossy Wet Pants?"
"That's it. I'm gonna tickle you to death, Alexandra Cartwright."
Trying to push my fingers away she giggled "Daddy, ya better stop that, ya gonna make me pee and I ain't wearing any britches."
"Oops. Well, we better fix that." I opened her bag. "Alex where are your spare clothes?"
"Ya told me to pack light. Wasn't gonna need any clothes."
"And you were going to need… let's see, a sling shot, a magician's wand, a matchbook; I think, I'll take these, a pack of cards… eww what's this?"
"Hey, I was savin' that peppermint stick, Ivan gave it to me last Christmas. Alex went to put it in her mouth."
"Yuk, no you don't. It's got mould on it."
"So, it'll wash off."
Before she could put it her mouth, I threw it in the fire.
"What the hell ya do that for? It was a perfectly good candy cane."
SWAT!
"Owwww"
"Alexandra, you a going stop cussing. What else have you got in here that's more important than clothes?"
I picked out a small leather bound book. "Shakespeare's Monologues". Remember it was the book I gave to you, Katherine, all those years ago. I opened it and read the inscription. "To my bonnie Kate, I'll always love you Adam". A picture of you then slipped from the pages. Before it hit the ground Alexandra had grabbed it…
"I got all these things that are more important than clothes," Declared Alexandra.
"You're absolutely right." And I placed a kiss on her forehead. "However, you still a going to need something warm to wear." I pulled a set of spare clothes from my saddle bag. I'll wear the black denims', you can wear the black shirt. It should nearly completely cover you up."
We rolled up the sleeves but Alex still swam in the garment. "It still a bit breezy in here." she said as she tugged at the sides of the shirt.
"Well okay then put these long legged underpants on." We slipped them on but they only fell down. "Okay, here let's fix this." I took the shirt off and pulled the pants right up. The waist band met the top of Alexis's shoulders.
"Can't move me arms"
"Okay, Okay, just hold on." I grabbed by pen knife and sliced a whole in the side seams of the legs. Alex triumphantly slid her arms through.
"Ta Da. And now for my next trick."
"Try not to wet them."
"Can I put the black shirt on again? I like it. It smells like you."
"You know Alex, things are going to be different living at the Ponderosa. For starters, we are all men in our house and we are not really used to little girls."
'Just as well, I'm no ordinary little girl."
…And that's very true. Alexandra is definitely not ordinary. She is a very special little girl. I'm so proud of her and so grateful to you, Molly and your mother for raising this precious gift. "
Katherine looked at Adam shyly. "You're welcome. I secretly always wondered what sort of father you'd make. I knew you were a good man, but a father… I wasn't so sure about."
"I try, I get it wrong sometimes."
"So did I. I'm so sorry about a lot of things Adam. I would like to talk to you tomorrow. You may need to bring my journals with you, they might have a lot more answers than I can remember."
"I would like that. You've had a long day. We best be going. You need to rest."
"I do; I feel like I've done all those things that Alexandra described," she chuckled. When she stopped, Katherine grew pensive, then smiled at Adam. She looked him in the eye, exploring their deep hazel pools that reflected his benevolence, before she spoke from her heart. "I can imagine the lake and Alexandra's meadow, full of sunshine and laughter. Thank you for bringing her with you."
"No. Thank you My Bonnie Kate," he whispered.
Katherine blushed. "I so wanted to see her and know she was safe and loved. I know that now… well the safe bit… that was always going to be a problem. But, she is a good girl and I know she is loved by not only you but your family. She loves you all so very much."
"I do momma and everybody at the theatre too. Molly says I can come and visit anytime."
Katherine smiled and ran her fingers through her child hair. "You've grown up so," she said with pride.
"Come on Alex let your momma sleep. You've had a good visit," suggested Adam.
"It's been good for both of us, Adam."
"The doctors says…"
"We'll talk tomorrow", interrupted Katherine.
"Okay," said Adam and he kissed Katherine gently on the forehead.
"You aren't allowed to kiss momma on the lips, dad?"
"Well never mind Adam," smirked Katherine, "that is one thing I do remember."
"Maybe yer can get Sister Bernadette ta disinfect ya lips dad," recommended Alexandra innocently.
~oOo~
Adam and Alexandra made their way to the hospital foyer, generally happy with their day. Even though Adam worried about Katherine's prognosis, the care and consideration that the hospital staff were providing gave him hope that the time Katherine had left would be full of good memories and comfort.
The Monsignor walked with them. "The day has produced some great moments," he stated quietly to Adam, hoping to relieve some of this young man's melancholy. "Alexandra has laid her mother's fears to rest about her safety and future. Katherine rested well last night and throughout the day she has improved both physically and mentally. She remembered things and interacted with Alexandra."
"Yes," said Adam, and smiled. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow, Monsignor. Thank you for all your help and council. I needed it."
"Help, Help!" A sudden cry came from the foyer in front of them.
The Monsignor, Adam and Alexandra rounded the corner. There, with a sister who had run to his aid, was Maverick. He was dishevelled; his clothes torn, his face dirty; covered in what looked like dried mud and blood. In his arms, he carried a very small limp form; Jai.
Fear rose up in both Alexandra and Adam as they rushed forward with the Monsignor to Brett's assistance. Adam grabbed Jai from Maverick before the man nearly collapsed with her in his arms.
"I found her… she's…" wheezed an exhausted Brett.
The Monsignor had come to Adam's side and was quickly but gently examining the child. "She's alive, Mr Maverick."
"Ohh, thank God," he cried as he slowly slumped to the floor.
"Sister!" called the Monsignor, "get an orderly, quickly."
TBC CHAPTER 22: Saving Jai.
A.N. Big shout out to Lajoci, for going through these last two chapters. Thank you also to all my loyal reviewers, for sticking this out considering the long breaks. I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I finish my tax return and the next chapter to my NCIS story done. I wasn't all that happy with this chapter, but I couldn't put my finger on it.