Epilogue
Adam walked about to the front of the house, climbing the two porch steps. The house was dark but Cammie had to be awake after the gunshots. He rapped on the door panel. "Cammie! Cammie, it's me, Adam Cartwright." A curtain was slightly pulled aside and then a lamp was lit. The door opened and Cammie fell into his arms.
"Oh, Adam! Mrs. Hodges and I were so frightened! We heard gunshots and a woman screaming and Violet's not in her room!" She clung to Adam's arms and he maneuvered her back inside. The cook was huddling on the sofa in her nightcap and wrap.
"There's no danger—not anymore. The screams were Violet's but she's not hurt; she took my horse and rode to the Ponderosa for help. Costello's been shot and another man is dead, the one named Stanton. I'm afraid there's going to be a disruption in your life, Cammie. Here, sit down. It'll be easier to hear." Cammie looked at Adam and by his face, understood that what he was about to say would be devastating; she dropped on the couch, sitting with her head in her hands. "Mrs. Hodges," Adam asked, "would you make coffee? Quite a bit. There are going to be some visitors in a short time, the sheriff and the doctor among them, and they may want some."
"Yes, yes" she said, rising. "Of course. I'll go make some now." She hurried to the kitchen, relieved to have something to do.
Adam sat by Cammie. She looked up and he took her closest hand in both of his. "I can't tell you everything because I don't know everything and I have to be careful what I do say. But there's a treasury agent outside, Agent Lew Kelley, but make him show you his bona fides. He'll want to question you. I suggest you answer as truthfully as you can, but for your own protection, don't volunteer any additional information—just answer his questions."
"He's going to ask me about my father isn't it? And his sudden wealth after the war. I was always…" She looked at Adam. "So many things have happened recently—so many. And meeting you was just one of them—and the best." She smiled tremulously.
"Thank you for that," he said, "but in the long run, you may change your mind. I'm going to go back out. It's best if you wait here." He patted her hand and then stood.
"Yes, yes," Cammie said. "I'll stay here. There's no place else to go. But, Adam, tell me one thing…were you ever-even a little bit—in love with me?"
Adam paused. "You're a lovely woman, Cammie. You'd make…."
"Don't," Cammie said raising a hand. "I know the answer. Take your own advice, Adam; don't volunteer too much information." She sat back, resting her head on the cushion, and slow tears fell from her closed eyes. With one last look at Cammie, Adam left the house for good.
~ 0 ~
By the time the Cartwrights arrived home, Violet was curled up, asleep on their settee. Ben gently shook her awake and she startled, sitting up and looking around.
"Oh, what time is it?" she asked, putting her hand to her face. "Do I have to go back to the M Bar now?"
"No," Ben said. He smiled at her indulgently; she was one brave girl, arriving at the Ponderosa in her night clothes. She had even lost her way once, she said, but found the path again. "We've discussed you staying here tonight. Then, tomorrow, a good friend of ours, a widow named Mrs. Shaughnessy will gladly put you up; she'll welcome the company, I'm sure. You can decide what you want to do when you have time; Adam insisted the treasury agent give you the reward for finding the gold and leading to the arrest of Mansfield. It's quite a tidy sum, I understand."
Violet looked up at Adam and the other male faces about her. "Thank you, Mr. Cartwright. It's been a horrible night…" The grandfather clock struck 2:00 in the morning. "I could use a soft bed. Adam, would you show me to my room?"
"Of course," Adam said and taking Violet by her arm, led her up the stairs to one of the guest rooms.
"Bet he puts that pretty piece in the room next to his," Joe said. "And I wouldn't blame him."
Ben glared at Joe. "That's just about enough. It's been a long night and we all need sleep. Let's just go to bed."
After dousing the lamps, Joe and Adam followed their father upstairs exchanging glances with one another. And as they reached the landing, Hoss whispered to Joe as they passed Adam's open door; the room, empty, "I hope it's a dang quiet night up here." And Joe giggled.
Violet was truly frightened and twice, asked Adam to check the window. "Violet, you're safe up here; no one's going to hurt you, although once you become a woman of means with all that money…" He grinned.
"Oh, Adam, stop teasing me! Can't you stay with me a little bit? I mean at least until I fall asleep." Violet looked up at him from where she sat on the bed, her feet tucked under her.
"Listen, if I stay with you, I don't think either of us will get much sleep. Now, get under the covers and dream about all the wealth you'll have and all the things you can buy."
Violet pulled down the top sheet and down coverlet and snuggled under them. "How much money will I get, do you think?"
"I think, all in all, it may be as much as $4,000-that's the reward for both Mansfield and the return of the gold." He grinned as Violet looked up at the ceiling, a small smile on her lips.
"I can't believe it. I'll never have to fall on my back again." She looked up at Adam, wanting to qualify. "Unless I want to, of course!"
"Oh, of course," he said, tucking her in as if she was a child. And he couldn't resist kissing her forehead.
She looked up at him and her eyes held no guile. "If I stayed around here, stayed in this area, do you think I might find a husband? Perhaps, one with black hair and golden eyes and who's kind?"
Adam couldn't help but smile at her. "I wouldn't be surprised; there are a lot of men who fit that description."
"I had someone particular in mind." Violet smiled at him.
"Yeah, well, you go to sleep now. It'll be another long day tomorrow, at least for me, and after breakfast, you're going to Mrs. Shaughnessy's, probably wearing a shirt and some dungarees of Joe's." He walked to the door and turned out the lamp but before he closed the door behind him, Violet asked in a small voice.
"What will happen to Cammie?"
Adam knew the land bought with the stolen gold would be confiscated by the U.S. government, most likely handed over or sold at a reduced rate, to some railroad baron back east. All but the Running-D. It had little value to any railroad or the government due to its location and would probably be auctioned.
"I don't know," Adam replied. "She said she had an aunt back east; I'm guessing that's where she'll go."
"That's sad, sort of," Violet said. "I thought I hated her but now, I guess I don't. Goodnight, Adam."
"Goodnight, Violet. Sweet dreams." Adam pulled the door to and walked to his room. He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and walked to the bed, turning down the covers. As he began to disrobe, a thought came to him; maybe he'd buy the Running D, tear down the dilapidated house and build a new one for a future bride, perhaps one with dark hair and mischievous eyes and a ready laugh. He had ideas for the house already, a river rock fireplace and a kitchen with the morning sun streaming in. And perhaps gas lights and indoor plumbing. Adam's mind started working on dimensions, on the materials—cedar and pine-and he smiled to himself. There was a reason to go forward, and in the morning, he'd start planning.
~ Finis ~
