Adam's mind was spinning as he rode home that night. He had almost done it again. He could not believe himself. He was so tempted. Adrien was falling apart. And the last time he tried to make something happen he'd almost lost her for good. Now it was almost like nothing had happened at all, of course, her being sick for the last few weeks helped that quite a bit. But where had he gotten the idea for this picnic? Was he crazy?

There's absolutely no way I can handle a whole day of being alone with her, he thought, but there's no backing out of it now. I could stand her up and make some excuse for not coming to get her. No, that's not good either. If I don't show up I bet she'll ride over here, and then she'll know I stood her up. That'll be even worse. How am I going to get out of this one.

He did not get out of it. He stayed up until 2 in the morning trying to figure out what to do. In the meantime, he did chores in the barn. In fact, he got so much done that he and his brothers wouldn't have to do anything the next morning except feed the stock.

At least that would stop Joe's complaining about having to do my chores for a while, he thought.

It did not seem like it had been long enough when Adam woke up. At sunrise, he had to. Hoss and Joe were about to knock down the door trying to thank him for doing the chores. Quickly, Adam slapped on his usual black wardrobe, and headed downstairs. He was still buttoning his shirt when he got to the breakfast table.

"Good morning, son, his father greeted him.

"Mornin' Pa," Adam replied. Hop Sing, the house cook, brought out breakfast and set it in the table. Hoss dug in immediately, while the other three just gazed in amazement. It was like this every morning, Hop Sing was singing in Chinese in the kitchen, Hoss was on his third plate of food before anyone was done dishing out their first, and Pa was making small talk with each of the boys before deciding what the day's project would be.

"Pa, there isn't much use in giving us chores to do today." Joe said giving a wide smile to Adam.

Why can't Joe keep his mouth shut, Adam thought.

"And why is that, son?" his father replied.

"Because Adam did 'em all last night," Hoss replied.

"So that's why you came in so late," Ben replied inquisitively to Adam.

"I was trying to catch up on what I missed last night, and I guess I got a little carried away," Adam answered, angry with Joe, but the smiles on both brothers' faces quickly cooled it.

"So what do you boys plan to do today?" their father asked.

"I guess, I'll go for a ride today, maybe I'll take Jennifer too," Joe replied.

"Joe, have you studied at all since school let out?" Adam asked.

"No, but I don't see why I have to, school doesn't go back until September," the youngest Cartwright replied.

"And in September, you won't remember a darn thing. There'll be no riding today, only studying, and Hoss the same goes for you," Ben ruled.

"Ah, come on Pa, this ain't fair, I was making plans for today," Hoss protested.

"Well, you can change your plans. Today, you're studying and that's final."

"Pa, I don't see why we have to study. We don't even have a teacher," Joe exclaimed, slamming his fork on the table.

"You do to have a teacher, and you have books to study too."

"Come on, Pa," the two boys protested.

"That's enough, finish your breakfast, and go upstairs." The two boys went back to their breakfast with long faces.

"Well, Adam," his father continued, "Since you have no studying to do, what do you plan to do today?"

"Not much, since I don't have anything to do, I thought maybe I'd take Adrie…I mean, Miss Cooper, down to the lake and go fishing."

"Sounds like a good idea, son. Why don't you bring her up for supper too?" Ben suggested.

"I was thinking of just that," Adam answered, as he took a bite of bacon.

"Who's this Adrien?" Joe asked, "Is she a girl?" His famous ladies man instincts kicking in.

"She's a woman," Adam answered.

"Well, who is she?" Joe asked again.

"She's your new teacher," Ben answered

"She's my new what?" Joe stood up, again slamming his fork on his plate and scattering food everywhere.

"Joseph, sit down!" his father yelled.

"Why do we have to get a new teacher?" he pleaded.

"Because you need to learn, Joseph, now sit down!" Ben yelled again. His thunderous voice bellowed through the house.

Joe sat down and continued eating. Adam and Ben continued their conversation.

"How's Miss Cooper doing out there anyway?" Ben asked Adam.

"She's doing alright. She doesn't miss the noise her brothers make, that's for sure," he replied, shooting a look at Little Joe.

"How does she like that house you fixed up for her?"

"She loves it. We've been working on the barn lately though. She wants to bring some of her horses from Colorado over here, so it will need a little more room."

"I've heard of a nice ranch there where she's from, I've actually thought of buying some stock from there. I can't remember the name of it though. Why don't you ask Miss Cooper?"

"It's called Cedar Ridge. It's the only big ranch over there, Pa."

"Really!" Ben was suddenly interested in the conversation, "Does she know the place well, and maybe she could get us a connection there."

"She is the connection there. She and her brothers run the place. It's a spread about half as big as ours."

"How does she run it when she's not there?"

"Her brother sends her a telegraph every time they need to make a deal. They give her all the details. She usually sits down in the café for a little while, thinks it over, and sends them her opinion back. She did it while she danced in Boston too. It's worked well for her so far. Two of her brothers are pretty good businessmen. The entire family is really hard workers."

"How many brothers does she have?" Ben asked.

"Seven." Adam answered.

"My word! She comes from a big family," Ben exclaimed.

"Yes, and she's the oldest of them all."

"Does she have any sisters?" Joe piped up, feeling the most important details were being left out.

"The ladies man instinct always kicks in eventually doesn't it?" Adam replied, rather cynically.

"But does she have any sisters?" Joe piped up again, being a little more persistent.

" Well, if you must know, she has two."

"Eleven children! That is quite a family." Ben exclaimed.

"Her father's been married a few times. A few in that number are step brothers, but they all treat each other as they belong," Adam explained.

"I see." Ben answered.

"Has Miss Cooper ever been married before?" Ben asked, seeing that his son had interest in her."

"No, but she almost did twice actually." Adam answered. He could not lie to his father.

"Hmmm. Why does this sound familiar?" Ben toyed.

"That's enough, Pa." Adam shot him an annoyed look, shutting the subject down.

"You and her must have had a very strong friendship in Boston."

"How did you know?" Adam asked.

"I knew from your reaction the day she arrived. I said her name and you lit up in a way that you haven't done since you came home from college," his father revealed.

"Really," Adam replied as he looked down and shook his head slightly. His father knew him better than he realized.

"Were you too good friends in Boston?" Ben asked.

"Let's just leave it alone," was Adam's answer.

"Adam, is there something you haven't told me?" his father asked.

"There's nothing to tell," he stated as he rose from the table.

"Where are you going?" his father inquired.

"Adrien's."

"Aren't you going a little early?" Ben asked.

"You'll see when I get home." He grabbed his hat and headed for the door. Ben followed him to the porch. As Adam came out of the barn with his horse, he called out, "Adam, remember, pace yourself she does have a contract to fulfill."

"Pa, that's something you won't have to worry about," he answered as he mounted and rode away before his father could reply.

"Are you ready to go." Adam asked when Adrien met him at her door.

"Yes, just hold on a second." She ran back inside to grab a wrap. "I don't see why we have to leave so early." She said as she came back out.

"You'll see when you get there. Are you sure you want to wear that?"

"Don't tell me you're having problems with my jeans again."

"Oh, well you've been invited over for dinner tonight, and I don't think it'd make a good first impression on my brothers if their new teacher showed up wearing jeans to dinner."

"Well, I was planning on you bringing me back in time to change, I don't like riding horses in a skirt."

"Fine, we may have to cut lunch a little short then."

"Why?"

"Because you'll need about an hour or two to get ready…" Adam kidded.

"Adam, my god, I'm going to dinner not meeting the Queen of England."

"Then how long will it take you?" He asked.

"Not long, but don't worry about that now, if we're going to go, then let's go."

"Alright, do you have Beauty saddled?"

"Ready and waiting," she answered, motioning to the barn.

"Then shall we."

The lake was a crystal blue. In shallow pools, the fish could be seen swimming around digging in the mud for food. Adam and Adrien sat in a boat in the middle of the lake. Both of them held a fishing pole while two more leaned up against the edge of the boat. Adrien sat across from Adam. She leaned back on the stern. Her hair was pulled up; and her hat was pulled over her eyes to ward away the sun. Adam was in his usual black garb. He sat with his elbows on his knees. He stared at Adrien from under the brim of his hat.

Why does she have to be so beautiful? He thought. Why can't I ever get my mind off of her that way?

It's probably better this way though, he thought as he leaned back and took a long look at Adrien, she's here now and it's probably better that we don't go back to our old ways. I just wish that maybe I could of…

"Adam, is something wrong?" Adrien broke his thoughts.

"No. Why?" He answered, suddenly not sure that he had only been thinking.

"You just seem unusually quiet."

"I was just thinking about something, nothing's wrong, really." He tried to give he an assuring look.

"Adam, I can tell something's wrong, I don't think I've ever seen you this fidgety."

"I was just thinking, really I'm fine." Adrien shot him a cynical look.

"Adam, you made me spill it yesterday, now it's your turn."

"Alright," he gave in knowing that she would not give in either, "maybe there are a few things on my mind. I regret a lot of it, but if I had known what I know now, I would have made different choices."

"About what?" She was still smiling.

"Well, I almost made the same mistake that you did."

"Who was she?"

"Her name was Abbie Wilcox, she was newly widowed."

"What happened?"

"She fell in love with my best friend."

"Nick?"

"How did you know?" Adam almost fell from the boat in surprise.

" I met a Nick Erickson in Colorado right before I left, he'd just married a Abbie Wilcox that day. I met him at the telegraph office. They were sending a message to start the process for him to adopt her little girl."

"I figured they'd get married right off the bat."

"Adam, I know I don't really have to know, but how did it happen?"

"After her husband was killed, I helped her with the ranch. I was still hurting from what happened between us, so I guess I thought that if I moved on then I'd get over it. Abbie was there. I was going to ask her to marry me."

Adrien leaned forward in interest and surprised.

Adam continued, "Nick showed up at the ranch. He and I became very good friends. I was getting ready to ask her to marry me, but I wanted to surprise her. I had a lot to do with the ranch, and I was traveling a lot to help out Pa. I found a great surprise in San Francisco. Meanwhile Nick started helping Abbie, and I guess things just happened, I overheard them talking in the house one day after I got back. I had told Nick that I was planning on proposing, and Nick didn't want to interfere, so he was leaving. I talked to Abbie about it later that day. I told her I could forgive her, but she didn't want to be forgiven. The next day she was gone." His voice was shaky and every once in a while, it cracked.

"I was never really in love with her. I was in love with the idea of being married, but I wanted to be married to you. There were a few times I thought of going back and finding you. At least, if nothing else, I would finally have an answer of why. But not even a week after Abbie left, I got the invitation for your wedding and I gave up hope."

"I wish you would have come for me." Adrien said, hoping that that would comfort him.

"If only I'd of known that then."

"Well, don't think about it now. It's all over, we made our mistakes, just forget about it," she still was trying to comfort him.

"It's hard to forget it."

"Just don't forget the lessons you learned from it."

"Why do you always know the right thing to say?" Adam smiled, starting to feel lighter now that this load was off his chest.

"It's just a gift." Adrien replied.

"Or maybe it's just luck."

"Well, today you're the lucky one." Adrien stated.

"And why is that?" He asked.

"You're lucky you didn't take me out for steak, I'm a little rusty on roping."