Chapter Thirty-Five

Ben arose to the sound of thundering hooves approaching the house. He hurried to the door, wondering what in Heaven's name could be wrong. A smile immediately took over his face when he saw the two big, black horses. His eyebrows went up when he saw a stranger sitting astride a black horse with a white hindquarter covered in black spots. The three brought their steeds down to a walk and approached the hitching rail.

"What a ride!" said Jim excitedly. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd have the opportunity to run all out in a field of snow on a horse like this. I must say Miss Whitney that was exhilarating!" he exclaimed, dismounting his horse.

Adam had already stepped down from Jezebel and walked over to Shiloh, catching her as she slid down out of the saddle. "Pa, this is Jim Fischer, originally from Boston. You'll remember me talking about him. He's moved to San Francisco and is purchasing some horses from Shiloh."

Ben extended his hand. "Welcome to the Ponderosa, Mr. Fischer."

"Jim, please," he said, shaking Ben's hand. "And what a magnificent spread you have here, Mr. Cartwright."

"Well, thank you." Ben spread his arm around behind Shiloh. "Let's get inside out of this cold." As they walked through the door, he said, "I hope Adam has invited you to stay for dinner."

"Actually, Pa, I invited him to stay. We have some catching up to do."

"Well, good. I'll let Hop Sing know we'll have guests for dinner. Excuse me for a moment."

"What do you think of Speck?" asked Shiloh.

"Miss Whitney, I have to tell you, I've had the opportunity to ride some fine animals in Boston, but your horses…they're simply magnificently trained. I don't know why I haven't heard of you before."

"Please, call me Shiloh. My father's business was by word of mouth, and I'm afraid when he left the south, he left a good business behind. Now with the war, I'm sure he's been forgotten there. He had been selling locally since we've been here."

"Well, I have a few friends who would love to get their hands on one of these horses. I'll certainly let them know who to contact."

Shiloh smiled. "Thank you. I just hope I can keep up with demand."

The three walked into the living area, sitting near the fire; Jim in the leather chair and Shiloh on the table with Adam standing with one foot propped up on the hearth.

"How long does it take to train one?"

"That depends entirely on the horse."

"Before you get started on that, Jim, can I offer you a drink…brandy, whiskey or coffee?" asked Adam.

"A nice hot cup of coffee would be wonderful."

"Shiloh?"

"Coffee, please." While Shiloh explained the training, Adam excused himself to the kitchen about the same time Ben was returning.

Listening to their conversation, he interjected. "We had all worried when Shiloh's father passed, that his methods died with him, but as luck would have it, he showed Shiloh how he trained them before she left for college. I'd known Amos for almost twenty years and encouraged him to expand his business. But he was satisfied with what he was doing. He never needed to make a lot of money on those horses. He just enjoyed the work and the appreciation his clients held for his animals. He wouldn't sell to just anyone."

"And what about you, Shiloh? asked Jim. "You talked about expanding your horse business."

"Talking about it and actually doing it are two entirely different things. I'm afraid I won't have the time to do much more than I'm doing now with the ranch and singing. I'd be much more interested in a happy medium. Like my father, I don't have to be wildly wealthy to be happy."

Adam had rejoined them while Shiloh was speaking. "Shiloh, you might be surprised at the amount of business Jim can bring you. He tends to enjoy showing off his horses and riding skills."

"Well, I'll just have to take it as it comes, I suppose," she answered, looking away.

Hop Sing came in with the coffee service just in time to stem what might have been an awkward silence. While he prepared cups for everyone, the conversation turned toward Jim.

"Jim, Adam has mentioned you went to college with him and that you have a successful law practice," said Ben.

"Well, I did in Boston. But I've accepted a position in a partnership in San Francisco, so I've recently moved there. It was Mr. Stanton, who handled a land bid that Shiloh won, who told me about the Whitney horses."

Ben smiled. "Small world."

Shiloh laughed. "You'd be surprised, Jim, just how many people Adam and I both know from Boston, though I don't believe you and I ever met there."

"No, we never met, but I did see several of your performances. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when you dropped off the face of the earth. But who else?"

Adam answered. "Well, Edwin Booth provided some guidance for Shiloh's singing career. And then, there was Will Stewart."

"I didn't know Mr. Booth, however I did know Will in college, as you well know, Adam."

"We won't talk about that," said Adam, winking.

"Do you know Natalie Peterson?" asked Shiloh, briefly cutting her eyes toward Adam.

"Natalie Peterson…I…uh…yes, I do know her." He uncomfortably cleared his throat, glancing at Adam. "Do you know her, too?"

"No, I've never met her. But she's here in town. She had dinner with Adam."

"Oh…well…."

Seeing the look pass between the two men, Shiloh made a mental note to bring Natalie up again with Adam, then changed the subject. "Jim, there's something you should know about Speck before you buy her. She's quite taken with Adam," said Shiloh, barely hiding her amusement.

Jim looked at Adam, then back to Shiloh. "I don't understand."

Adam scratched his nose. "I don't think you'll have any trouble. She only acts out at Shiloh when I come along."

Hop Sing stepped out of the kitchen to tell them dinner was ready. "I'll explain over dinner," said Adam as he took Shiloh's hand.

Ben went to the stairs and called for Joe and Hoss and as soon as everyone was present they sat down for dinner. Adam and Jim's stories of college kept them all entertained even after dinner until Jim announced that he'd like to turn in.

"Can we do the paperwork tomorrow?" he asked.

"Of course. But how do you intend to get them home?"

"I'll ride Speck and string the other two. I'm not familiar with the territory, so I plan to follow the stagecoach."

"That should work. Well, I should be getting back to the ranch. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, smiling at Jim.

Once Jim had disappeared up the stairs, Shiloh said her good nights to the rest of the Cartwrights and headed out the door with Adam. "I thought I'd leave Speck for Jim to ride tomorrow."

"Alright. I'll bed him down in the barn."

Shiloh walked to the horses. "Can you give me a leg up?"

"Uh, no. You're not riding home alone. You wait right here while I take Speck to the barn. Then I'll go with you." As he turned toward the barn, she gave him a sour look, causing him to stop and raise his chin as he looked over at her. He walked back. "Are you being obstinate?"

"Adam, it's not that far to the house, but every time I come over here, you or your father insists on taking me home or sending someone with me."

"Your point?"

"I get over here by myself."

Adam breathed out as he spoke. "Shiloh, you know perfectly well why. We don't know where Sam King is and as long as we don't, you shouldn't be riding alone…especially without your gun."

"I doubt Sam will be that bold. Everything he's done so far has been done when no one else was around."

"Precisely." When she cast her eyes upward, he took her hand and pulled her into him so quickly, she grunted. "Let's go. We're doing this together," he said, putting his arm firmly around her waist and walking her toward the barn.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Nope."