Adrien's final school year was quickly drawing to a close. Adam and Adrien were in a state of pure bliss when they were together and tried not to let the strife of the outside world affect them, but they knew that something was brewing around them. It was beginning to affect every person in Virginia City, even the children.
Adrien knew from experience and common sense that children will tease one another. She had always kept it from getting out of hand in her classroom. But, ever since January, this had become increasingly difficult.
Until December, there had always been a separate school set up for the miner's children to make it easier for the children to get to and from school. Many of the mines were miles away from any town whatsoever, so the Miner's Association had taken it upon themselves to fund their own school because of this.
Lately, the miner's luck had run dry. If anyone found any ore, it was very little. It was getting were there was no money to pay men to dig anymore, which meant that there was no money for the school either. As of Christmas, the school had been shut down. In January, as many children as could get there where now under the instruction of Adrien in Virginia City.
As the winter drug on, the miner's were running out of work, the one's that still had jobs were unhappily taking steep pay cuts.
Many of the men without jobs were spending their days drinking away their problems in the saloons. Fights broke out almost daily. There was talk about striking against the Miner's Association, which they believed would protect them. All of this talk was leaking in to the children's ear and carried into the school with them.
Many of the students that had originally attended school in Virginia City were the children of the local cattlemen. The cattlemen and the miners for some reason that Adrien didn't understand had never gotten along and somehow in the midst of this feud, the school had become not only a melting pot for the two groups, but a common battle ground the children to follow in their parents footsteps.
By the time that spring came about, there was not a day that went by that Adrien did not have to break up a fight in the schoolyard. There was one day that it did get out of hand. Adrien now sat at her desk. Adam, Ben and the rest of the school board sat there as the six boys and their parents came in and sat down. One of the boys almost had to be carried in between his parents. They sat on the other side of the room from every one else. Adrien got up and stood in front of her desk. She knew what she had to do, and it was not going to be easy.
Adam watched her from where he sat beside his father. He could see that there was some question in her eyes, she'd never asked to do what she was about to. Adam could tell that it scared her a little, especially with everything that was going on around them. However, he was the only one that could see it.
"Well, since everyone is here, I guess we can begin." She began in her teacher voice, it was as cold as ice, it even gave Adam chills. The bruise on her cheek and the slightly black eye made her seem even colder
"I think that we all know why we're all gathered here. So, let me begin by saying that I always find it sad when there is any altercation between any one, and I also find it sad when people have to resort to violence to solve their differences and what I find the saddest of all, is when the conflicts of adults are weighed so heavily that it affects their children's lives. That is why I wanted you all present this evening. For a while now, the conflicts of adults in this town have been affecting the children in this school, but today it has reached an intolerable high.
As always, the no tolerance policy in this school applies in this situation, but the despicable behavior displayed today by you boys calls for something a bit more.
I don't know what you boys wanted to accomplish by your attempt at a vigil antes, but all that you have done is gotten yourselves into a great amount of trouble. So, Chad Elders, Lonnie Holman, Jeff Marlin, David Thompson, and Kevin Jones, with permission given by the school board, are herby expelled for the remainder of this term, and admittance for next year is still in question."
She took a stack of papers from the corner of her desk and handed a packet of papers to each of the children.
"On the top of each packet is your official letter expulsion, and under that is your glimmer of hope. If you complete each of those assignments in full, and they are adequately correct, then I will allow you to receive a passing grade for this term, otherwise you will have to repeat that grade when you are allowed to return to class. Are there any questions?"
"I have one, woman." Mr. Marlin stood up. "What happens to that kid?" He pointed to Billy Ross.
"Mr. Marlin, " Adrien answered. "In my classroom, we find it very rude to point and we always respect each other enough to address each other by name just as I am doing to you. When this procedure is not followed, that person is ignored. Will that be a problem, Mr. Marlin?"
The man's face turned bright red.
"As for your question, Mr. Marlin. There is no evidence of provocation for what your son and his friends did. In fact, I have asked many times for your help in controlling your son's behavior towards me and his fellow students, and that has been ignored, so this should be no surprise for you, but I don't believe Mr. Ross will be coming to school for a few days either, but he is excused until he feels well enough to come back to class."
"That ain't right, " Marlin exclaimed, standing up and advancing towards her. "Bitch, you're playing favorites, you ain't gonna get away with this. You ain't gonna do this to my boy…"
Every member of the school board jumped to Adrien's defense.
"Mr. Marlin, I think you need to sit down." Mr. Lodge came to the rescue, surprisingly beating Adam to the punch. "You don't seem to understand what Miss Cooper is doing for your son. This board didn't even want to consider letting any of these five back in class here ever again, much less give them a chance to complete this term. You should consider yourselves lucky."
Marlin sat down, pouting like a whipped puppy. It seemed that everyone took a sigh of relief.
"Is there anything else any of you ladies and gentlemen would like to say?" Adrien again took hold of the proceedings.
No one moved, no one breathed.
"Well, if no one has any comments, then we're done here, you're all dismissed."
Everyone left in a silence, except for the Ross's. Adrien was tapped by Mrs. Ross on the shoulder.
"Miss Cooper, I hope you didn't get hurt to bad in all of this." She whispered.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you not to worry about Billy coming back if he doesn't want to, he's a great student, and I have complete faith that he's absolutely ready for next term." Adrien's cold tone had warmed nicely.
"Thank you Miss Cooper, but you know how Billy is."
"Yes, that's why the day he comes back I want a note from you saying that he's well enough to be in class. We don't need another episode like we had when he had the flue." Adrien smiled. "Just go get some rest, Billy. I'll ride out and check on you in a few days."
"Miss Cooper, may I have a book to read, please?" The boy asked sweetly.
"I knew you'd say that." Adrien replied. "I have just the one for you." She grabbed a book off the stack on her desk. "How about some poetry? This one's a favorite of mine, Milton's Paradise Lost. This is a very special copy, so please take extra special care of it."
"Don't worry I will." The boy answered with a smile on his face. He left the room with the help of his mother.
As soon as everyone had left, Adam walked up behind Adrien, and stroked her arm gently with his hand. She flinched and then tried to hide it.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think there were any bruises there." He apologized. She reached for his hand.
"It's all right, dear. You didn't know." She said following the comment with a yawn.
"I'm proud of you, darling. There's not many people I know who would put Marlin in his place like that."
"It wasn't easy, but I won't be spoken to like that either. It really helped when Lodge stepped in though."
"That's a first. James A. Lodge the third coming to the rescue, and there's not single thing that he can get out of it." Adam joked, Adrien smiled lightly.
"Whatever works, works. I have no reason to argue with it."
"So does our Mr. Lodge have a new friend?"
"Let's not go that far yet, dear." She said, trying to hold back another yawn.
"Tired?" Adam asked.
"Extremely. I think I earned my keep today." Adrien answered.
"Then why don't we go home?"
"We can't."
"Why not?
"I can go home, and you can go home. We can't go home. We can as soon as you let me make a few plans."
"Adrien, why can't we just wait until this terms over?" Adam asked as he picked up her books, and gathered up the papers on her desk.
"Because it took me eight years to get this." She held up her hand to show him the engagement ring that he had given her five months before. "At this pace we'll both be old spinsters before we get married. Sometimes I wonder if you ever want to marry me at all." She said, as Adam directed her out the door.
"Don't worry darling, of course I want to marry you. I just don't want you getting bogged down with both projects at once."
"I think I could handle it, dear."
"I have no doubt that you could, I just don't want my wife frazzled before I get her. That's my job." He kissed her lightly and then helped her up into the buggy.
"Don't think you're gettin' away with anything you bitch." A voice called from the darkness. "I know what you're up too."
Marlin came out of the shadows.
"And what do you think that she's up to?" Adam retaliated.
"She thinks that she can drive us all out , hold us back, she's in with all you cattlemen, just tryin' ta drive us out. She thinks she can help alla' you keep all that silver that we need underground." The man ranted.
"Now, Marlin, you know that Miss Cooper is just doing her job. The entire school board backs her up on this," Adam countered. " and your son had it coming anyway. She's never even been involved with the ranchers in the area. What interest would it have for her anyway?"
"She's got interest enough, and don't think that you Cartwrights can protect her forever. She's gonna pay for what she's a doin' ta us. My son ain't her last target. I know it. You know it. And she knows it. That's just what she is, cruel, vindictive, and hateful. Just because we're miners is no reason to act all high and mighty. She'll pay for this. I'll make sure of it…"
Adam started to advance towards him and shut him up.
"Adam, don't." Adrien called after him.
Adam stopped and looked back at her, confused. He took a deep breath.
"He's not worth it. There's been enough violence today, I don't want anymore."
Adam took another deep breath
"If that's what you want." He said and turned back to Marlin. "You leave her alone, or you'll wish you never met a Cartwright."
Adam took his place in the buggy with a firmly clenched jaw. He drove Adrien home but was hesitant to leave her there. He walked through the house to make sure that no one was lurking in the shadows, but he still could not bring himself to leave.
"Adam, it's fine." Adrien assured him. "Marlin's just blowing off steam. That's all. He'll never follow through on anything he says."
"I can't be sure of that, I just can't be sure."
"Adam, Marlin's all talk. That's all he'll ever be. Go home, I'll be fine."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"You know, I absolutely hate that color on you." Adam kidded from the door way of the schoolhouse.
A couple of days had passed, the news of the fight was now buzzing through the town.
"Adam, I didn't hear you come in." Adrien answered, she appeared to be in a better mood, despite the remaining pain through out her body.
"And I don't really care what you think of this dress, I love it. In fact, think I'll have the church painted this color just for the wedding." She coyly remarked.
"I thought you hated pink."
"Yes, but so do you, so I have to like it."
"And why is that?" Adam asked, beginning to wonder just exactly what he had started.
"Because opposites attract."
"Well, that explains things."
"Explains what?"
"Well, I wish that likes attracted."
"Why?" Adrien asked, suddenly confused that Adam was not playing along with her game.
"Because if likes attracted, then I would be able to think like you. I'd know what you were thinking, where you were, why you were there, and why you just took off when there are people out there waiting who want to hurt you."
"I take it you were looking for me then." Adrien realized, she said taking a stack of papers from the corner of the desk and putting them on the bottom on the stack already in front of her.
"Yes, I was." Adam answered. "You need to be more careful, lock this door when you're not expecting someone. Tell someone where you are, leave a note, something."
"What brings all this on?" Adrien asked, as she began grading papers.
"If you'd remember, I was going to bring you dinner tonight so we could eat at your place. But when I showed up, you weren't there. I came here, and you weren't here either. I was getting worried, Adrieaunna."
"Adam, you had nothing to worry about. I was just at the Ross's and then I went to see Leita. She gave me something that I want to show you anyway." Adrien reached into her saddlebags which sat under her desk, and pulled out a stack of small cloth squares.
"What's this?" Adam asked.
"Just look through those and tell me which ones you like." Adrien told him.
"Wait, I know what you're trying and it's not going to work."
"And what am I trying, Master Cartwright?" She said with a playful smile.
"You're making plans when we agreed not to."
"I thought I could slip this one past you, or maybe you'd know and you'd just let me. It's not fair having to wait." Adrien whined,
"I know it's been a long time, but can't you wait one more month?" Adam asked.
"Promise that it'll just be a month."
"I promise."
"Fine." Adrien pouted. "But I'm marking this date next month on my calendar and I'm holding you to it."
"Yes, dear."
"I mean it, there's no stopping me."
"Yes, dear."
"Do you know how much I love you?"
"Yes, dear, I do." Adam kissed her on the forehead." I don't have the buggy, but I'd be happy to ride back to your place with you."
"Oh, not tonight dear. I have a lot of work to do. I think I better stay here and get it done with no distractions."
"Are you sure?" Adam was very hesitant to leave her, especially with Marlin sitting in the saloon ranting, raving, and making threats while wasting away on a barstool. "Can't you just wait till tomorrow to do it?"
"No, I need to get these done. I'd like to go to sleep tonight without thinking about what I have to catch up tomorrow."
"Then why don't I just wait for you outside?"
"If you want, but go to the saloon or something. I have no idea how long this will take." Adrien suggested.
"Alright, but only if you promise me that I can bring you lunch tomorrow." Adam bargained.
"It's a deal."
"Please don't work too late darling." Adam pleaded. "I don't want to see you losing sleep just yet."
"I promise I won't, dear." Adrien crossed her heart to seal it.
"You're so cute when you're childish." Adam smiled, and reluctantly kissed his fiancé goodbye. He walked down the street towards the saloon. Strangely enough, he didn't hear Marlin's voice ringing above every other sound in the place. He sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. Travis noticed that Adam had entered and came up to the bar to talk to him.
"It thought that you were spending time with the old ball and chain tonight." He joked.
"I was, but it claimed to have work to do at the schoolhouse." Adam answered; the disappointment obvious in his voice.
"Well, that's sis for you." Travis replied, patting Adam on the back. "I'm glad she did, I have something to tell you that I think you need to know. Why don't we sit somewhere where it's a little quieter." Travis motioned to the barkeep to bring them another round as they went to sit at a nearby table.
"So what's going on?" Adam asked as their beers were set on the table.
"The miner's are planning to start some trouble. I heard that they're going to burn a bunch of cattlemen's houses tonight. I think they might try to do something to Adrien." Travis answered in a low whisper.
"I don't know. Is Marlin heading this up?" Adam asked.
"That was a dumb question."
"Well, then why isn't he out gathering his crew? I see a lot of his buddies heavily involved in a poker game over there." Adam said calling attention to the men at the table in the corner.
"I'm not sure. Maybe these guys are just a diversion." Travis guessed.
"Maybe it's just a bunch of Marlin's hot air, like Adrien said. He can't do this alone." Adam suggested.
"You may be right." Travis agreed.
The two sat and talked about lighter subjects, before they knew it a couple hours had passed.
I need to see if Adrien is finished. I really wanted to spend some time with her tonight, maybe I can at least talk to her on the way home." Adam said, finishing off his latest glass of beer.
"Well, I'll see you back at the ranch. Don't be too long, she still is my sister, you know."
"Hey, everyone!" A young man yelled as he ran into the saloon. " Help! The schoolhouse is on fire!"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The schoolhouse was engulfed in flames.
"Didn't you say that Adrien was working at the schoolhouse tonight?" Travis asked Adam as they ran into the schoolyard and laying eyes on the flaming building.
"Yes, she was." Adam answered, panic entering his voice.
All around them people were gathering, filling buckets from the pump and throwing them on the fire. Adam quickly filled a bucket and dumped it over himself.
"What are you doing?" Travis asked, surprised at Adam's strange behavior.
"I'm going in there." Adam answered, throwing his gun belt to the ground, and tying a handkerchief over his nose and mouth.
He ran through the door into the flames. Adrien was nowhere to be seen. He screamed her name, but he could not hear his own voice over the roar of the fire. The rafters began to creak as the walls that held them began to crumble.
He ran towards the front of the schoolroom. He saw a bit of pink cloth coming out from behind the desk. Adam reached down and picked up his unconscious fiancé.
"Adrien…Adrien…" He said. She did not wake up.
"Hurry, Adam." He heard Travis yell from outside. "It's about to give."
Adam took off his shirt and wrapped it around her before picking Adrien up.
One of the rafters fell in front of them. There was no other door, so there was no choice but to jump over it. He took a few steps back and made a run for it. The door never seemed farther. He made it outside just as the rest of the schoolhouse collapsed behind them.
Adam laid Adrien down at the edge of the schoolyard. He put out the small flames that were burning her skirt. Travis took some water and poured it over her face. She still did not wake. Travis leaned close to his sister's face.
"Is she…?" His voice trailed.
"Not yet." Adam answered, pouring more water over her face. He lifted her head with his hand to try to pour some water into her mouth. "But she does have a bullet in the leg."
"Come on, sis." Travis pleaded. "Come on."
Adam took his hand from under her head and started to pick her up.
"Adam, you r hand." Travis pointed out.
Adam looked at his hand, which was covered in blood.
"She's taken a pretty good hit from someone." Travis quickly concluded.
"We need to get her to the doc's and fast." Adam said, picking his fiancé up quickly but gently. "Travis, start tracking whoever was here, and when you find him, shoot him."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"I've never understood how hate can run so deep in a person that he has to hurt innocent people to suffice it." Ben said quietly to his oldest son.
It had been three days. Adrien had not woken up. She lay in a bed in Doc Martin's clinic in town. Adam had not left her side. He just sat there beside her bed watching and waiting and turning her engagement ring over and over in his hand.. Travis sat on the other side, lightly stroking his sister's hand. Both men were praying not only for answers, but for a miracle.
Travis had been right. Adrien had taken and almost fatal blow to the head. There was quite a bit of swelling, the doc knew for sure that there was a concussion and possibly a fracture. The only thing anyone really knew was that she was very lucky, and she was barely hanging on, and she couldn't straddle the fence forever.
"I don't think that Adrien will appreciate waking up without that on her hand." Ben suggested.
"What's it matter, she won't want to marry me after all this. I shouldn't have let her stay there. I didn't protect her like I should have. She'll never trust me again.
"Adam, don't say that. You didn't know that Marlin would do this. No one did."
"But I had a clue. I let her stay there. I shouldn't have. I never should have."
"Adam, stop this. Why don't you come home and clear your head for a night. You need some rest. You'll know how Adrien really feels soon enough."
"No, I'm not leaving her." Adam answered.
"Alright, Travis, why don't you get some rest, neither of you are doing her any good waring yourselves out like this." Ben tried again.
"I think I can get enough rest right here, Mr. Cartwright." Travis answered.
"Has she improved at all?" Ben asked, deciding to change the subject.
"Not yet." Adam answered, the disappointment obvious in his voice.
"But she will." Travis reassured. "My sister is just vindictive enough that she'll live just to spite them all."
Ben smirked slightly, knowing that Travis was dead right, but his laugh was choked when he saw that his son's expression hadn't changed in the least.
"Let me know as soon as anything happens."
Ben patted his son on the shoulder as he left the room.
A few minutes later, Doc Martin came in to check on her. After checking her leg wound, he suggested that they talk to her. Maybe familiar voices would bring her around.
The two of them rambled themselves hoarse. Travis actually talked himself to sleep after supper.
The moonlight shone through the window and across Adrien's' face. Adam sat down on the edge of the bed and spread her hair out across the pillow. He found a brush on the nightstand and started to brush her hair.
"You're too beautiful not to smile darling." He whispered. "I wish, you'd wake up and do that."
He reached down and took her hand.
"Adrien, I'm so sorry about all this. I wish I could have protected you. There's a lot I wish I could have protected you from a lot more."
He slipped her engagement ring back on her finger.
"I've tried darling, I've really tried. I love you. I hope you know that. I've never really found a way to truly tell you how much I do, but I do."
He squeezed her hand tighter.
"You know, this is usually when you kiss me and tell me not to worry, that you know, and it's all alright."
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose.
"Don't worry, I'll let you by without kissing me back this time." He started to smirk, but then he looked back up at her almost lifeless face, and any joy was gone.
Suddenly, she squeezed his hand.
"Adrien, Adrien, are you there? Adrien!" He called. "Travis, I think she's waking up."
Adam's yelling woke everyone in the house up.
"Come on, sis, come on." Travis coaxed as he took her other hand that was now clenched in a fist.
Adrien's eyes flew open. Adam felt her hand begin to shake in his. It seemed as if the tremor moved up her arms and through the rest of her body.
"Travis, get the doctor." Adam yelled.
Travis bolted from the room, and his footsteps faded down the hallway.
