Chapter Fifty
Adam drove the buggy carrying Annie and Shiloh toward town while Hoss and Joe followed in the buckboard. Ben had convinced Shiloh to spend Christmas at the Ponderosa; something that turned out to be easy considering her fondness for Ben's oldest son. She and Annie had insisted they help with the Christmas Eve party, a tradition at the Ponderosa, and that meant getting supplies, including Hop Sing's list, as well as heading out into the woods to find the perfect Christmas tree. Both Shiloh and Adam had other business in town, and Shiloh had to retrieve her trunk that she had left in her dressing room at the opera house.
"Joe, you take care of all the normal supplies at Mr. Murdock's, but before you load, take the buckboard over to the opera house and help me load Shiloh's trunk. Hoss," he said, giving Hoss Hop Sing's list, "Go over to Lee Chang's and get the first part of this list, then come back to Murdock's and get the rest."
"And what are you gonna do?" said Joe, arms crossed, giving Adam an agitated look.
"Shiloh and I have business at the opera house. So I'm waiting for you to get the buckboard over there to load that trunk." Once we're finished there, I'm going over to bank to take care of a little matter for Pa, then I'm coming back to help you while Annie and Shiloh go shopping," said Adam, turning and smiling at the two women.
"I also need to see Sam Clemens," said Shiloh.
Adam stood up straight and dropped his arms to his sides. "Why?"
"The night of the performance when he took me home, he showed me what he had written. He said to come by the Enterprise to see the last part."
"Maybe I should go with you." She cocked her head, puckered her lips and squinted at him, to which he threw up his hands in surrender.
When they arrived at the opera house, Tom met them at the door, and while Adam and Joe went to get the trunk, Tom escorted Shiloh to his office while Annie wandered into the main hall. "Shiloh, I wanted to ask you before Adam got here…did something happen the night of your performance that upset you? I saw you hurrying out of the hall and Adam running after you."
She opened her mouth, then looked down. "Everything's fine, Tom."
"Please understand I'm concerned for you. You were upset when you should have been celebrating."
Taking a deep breath, she said, "We had a…misunderstanding, but everything's fine."
Tom clasped his hands in front of him and frowned as he considered her. I should have paid more attention to her from the start. She would have been the perfect companion in this business. "Well, that's good to hear," he said half-heartedly. "I have some inquiries for you from some other houses…let's see…Denver City, Sacramento City and Salt Lake City. And I thought you'd be interested to hear that Julia Dean has agreed to perform here for the official opening next year."
"Tom, that's wonderful news."
"What's wonderful news?" asked Adam as he walked in the door of the office.
"Julia Dean will be the opening performer next year," said Shiloh.
Reaching across the desk, offering his hand, Adam said, "Congratulations. That is good news."
"Thank you, Adam. Now, I have an appointment, and I don't want to keep you, so let me just give you this," he said, dropping a stack of newspapers on the desk in front of Shiloh.
"What's this?"
"Reviews. There's a small one in there by Clemens, promising that a full article is coming. The other two are from the Alta California and the Sacramento Union. I have a copy of the Boston and New York papers on the way. And here is your pay." He handed another bank draft to Adam. "And yours."
Adam cleared his throat. "Uh, Tom, I wasn't expecting anything. I did that as a favor to Shiloh."
"That sounds awfully familiar," said Tom, glancing over at Shiloh, "but as I said before, you earned it. You should read those reviews, Adam. You're in them." Maguire stood and walked to the door, and Shiloh and Adam followed. "Besides that, you have some admirers in Virginia City. Several people have asked if you and Isabella would be performing again."
"That's great," responded Adam, sarcastically.
Annie joined them on the way out and when the three had exited the building, Mrs. Gables and Miss Watkins were marching toward them. "Uh, Adam, Annie and I will meet you back at Murdock's," said Shiloh. Before Adam realized what was happening, Shiloh had grabbed Annie's hand and had pulled her to the alley and disappeared.
"Oh, Mr. Cartwright," called Mrs. Gables.
Before he turned around, he glared at the corner the two girls had vanished around, then forced a smile as he turned. "Mrs. Gables, Miss Watkins," he said, tipping his hat. "What can I do for you ladies today?"
"Mr. Cartwright, first I want to say how much we enjoyed your performance. I knew you played guitar, but I had no idea you played classically," said Mrs. Gables. Miss Watkins stood beside her, nodding.
He smiled nervously. "Uh…thank you, ladies. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have errands."
As he took his first step toward the bank, Mrs. Gables spoke. "Mr. Cartwright, I was wondering if I could impose upon you."
He slowly turned back, still wearing a tense smile.
"The Virginia City Culture Society has monthly meetings, and we would like to invite you to come and speak to the group."
"What would I speak about?" asked Adam, creasing his eyebrows.
"You would mostly be answering questions, but it would be wonderful if you could play your guitar."
"Well, Mrs. Gables, I'm not really a performer. I just played for Miss Whitney as a favor."
"I realize you don't normally perform, Mr. Cartwright, but being a local rancher…well, Virginia City has some hidden talent that should be shared. Don't you think?"
Adam took Mrs. Gables hand. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to say no. I don't intend to continue performing, and I do have a ranch to take care of." Moving his hand to his chest, he finished, smiling, "Now, if you ladies will excuse me." He tipped his hat and walked up the street toward the bank, murmuring under his breath, "Shiloh, just wait 'til I get my hands on you."
The girls stopped at the Territorial Enterprise and were greeted by Mr. Goodman. "Ladies, what can I do for you today?"
"Mr. Goodman, would you tell me where I can find Mr. Clemens?" asked Shiloh.
"Mr. Clemens is right here," came a voice from the back soon followed by the man himself.
"Sam, this is my friend from college, Miss Annie Walters."
"Ah yes, the young woman who aspires to be a doctor. It's very nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Walters," he said, bowing and taking her hand. "Shiloh has told me of your struggles to find acceptance at a medical school. A word of advice…keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great*."
"Yes, well, she is struggling no more. She's been accepted at the Female Medical College in Philadelphia."
"In your case then, those people are men and women, in that order. My heartfelt congratulations," he said, smiling and patting her hand.
Unlike Shiloh, who would have blushed, Annie met his eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Clemens. Shiloh has told me a good bit about you as well."
He cleared his throat. "All good, I hope," he said, winking. "Why don't we go to my office and take a look at the finished article?"
When Shiloh and Annie returned to Murdock's, Hoss and Adam rushed over to relieve them of their packages. "Did you buy the shop out?" asked Adam.
Shiloh looked at him indignantly. "It's not that much. It's a dress for the party and a heavier cape, and a few…other…things."
Hoss stood looking at Hop Sing's list after loading Annie's packages under the seat of the buggy. "Hey, Adam. There's some things on this list that Mr. Murdock ain't got. I ain't even sure what some of 'em are," he said, grimacing.
Standing beside him, Annie leaned in and read the list. "Those shouldn't be that hard to find. Is there another store?"
"Well, yeah, there's Mr. Cass's."
"Why don't I go get the rest of this with you?" offered Annie.
A slow smile made its way across Hoss's face. "Adam, we'll be back in a few minutes," he said, holding his arm out to Annie, who took it and smiled, the two walking down the boardwalk together.
Shiloh smiled and Adam harrumphed as they watched them walk away. Raising his brows, Adam looked back at Shiloh who shrugged and tilted her head. "By the way," said Adam curtly. "You and I need to talk."
"'bout what?" she said, playfully cutting her eyes up at him, knowing she was about to get an earful for leaving him at the mercy of Mrs. Gables.
He just stood there, a contented smile on his face and in his eyes, remembering those same words and that same mischievous look coming from a seven-year-old. "I don't remember," he said, stepping forward and kissing her just as Mrs. Murdock stepped out of the store.
"Adam Cartwright, you know better than that! You'd better have proper intentions toward that girl."
He chuckled, and walking toward the door of the store, he stopped and kissed Mrs. Murdock's cheek, then whispered in her ear.
"Oh my goodness!" she said loudly as she threw her hands in the air. Rushing to Shiloh, she put her arm around her and ushered Shiloh into the store.
On the way back out, Shiloh leaned into Adam and said quietly, "You realize the entire town will know we're getting married by evening, don't you?"
They stopped at the buggy, and Adam smiled down at her before he lifted her up in front of the seat. "Yes, I do. I thought we'd make the announcement at the Christmas Eve party and make that our engagement party as well."
"Are you in a hurry?"
"Well, I think it would be better if we didn't wait too long. I have a feeling you're going to be busy pretty soon. I don't want to have trouble working the wedding in. And I'd like to take you away from here for a good month…to breathe." Just before Adam stepped up into the buggy, he turned and noticed Sam Clemens trying to get his attention. "I'll be right back," he said as he walked across the street.
The two men turned their backs toward the buggy, but Adam had turned his head toward Sam, and Shiloh saw the look on his face…his jaw was set and his back became rigid as his right hand slowly moved down to his gun. He turned all the way around, surveying the buildings around him, then turned back to Sam. The two men shook hands, and went separate ways, Adam walking back to the buggy, still studying the town left and right of him.
By the time he had climbed into the seat everyone had returned. Annie was up on the buckboard seat next to Hoss and Joe was in the back seat of the buggy, leaning back with one leg lazily crossing the other and his hat pulled down over his eyes. Adam waved his hand high in the air, signaling Hoss to follow as he flicked the reins, and the buggy lurched forward.
Shiloh didn't know why yet, but Adam's disposition unnerved her. She had only seen him this way when there was a threat close by. At first she thought he might be disturbed that Natalie was still in town. She had been watching them from the front of the dress shop, and Shiloh was sure Adam had seen her. Shiloh wondered herself why Natalie would still be in town, but what was disturbing Adam at the moment appeared to be something else entirely. He looked forward, moving his eyes left and right without moving his head as they passed buildings on the way out of town. She wanted to ask him what Clemens had told him, but Adam's dour look stopped her.
