"Travis, why aren't you going further than Colorado Springs with these two?" Ben asked as the entire family was gathered around the dining room table of the Ponderosa.
"Well, the Watson's aren't my side of the family," Travis answered.
"Wait, how is that?" Hoss asked.
"Travis is actually my stepbrother," Adrien explained, "He was ten when his mother and my father married."
"I guess I just figured that your entire family would be joining you two in Virginia," Ben revealed.
"Well, we are all siblings through my father," Adrien explained, "but John and I are cousins through my mother. Simon and I are full siblings. Travis is the only step and the rest are half."
"How does that all go again, before I get my foot in my mouth?" Adam asked.
"Alright, are you ready?" Adrien asked, "Now make sure you remember this time, because I am NOT making you a cheat sheet."
"I think I'll get it this time," Adam answered nervously.
"So I'm the oldest of course. My mother was Charity Watson. She grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. She ran off with my father when she was 16. She has 17 when she had me. They moved to Colorado Springs where my father's family was when I was 1. My brother Simon was born when I was 2. When I was 4, my mother ran off from my father. She was taken in by a nearby tribe of Cheyanne, and we lived with them for 2 years. My mother fell in love with a gypsy, but he didn't want us. We were left behind with the tribe, but that's when disputes started with the Apache. They took us back to Colorado Springs for our own safety. We ended up back in my father's house that way. By then, he had married Eliza and had twin boys, Cordell and Conrad, and they're a wild mess. Half of what Simon does is try to keep them in line."
"And what's the gap between you and the twins?" Ben asked.
"They're a year younger than I am," Travis added, "Most of the reason why I stay here is to get out of keeping up with those two fools."
"They aren't that bad if you know how to handle them," Adrien said in defense of her little brothers, "Anyway, Eliza died very soon after we went were living with my father again. My father married Jennifer about 2 months later, and Catherine was born when I was 7. Jennifer died when I was 8."
"After that, Cooper married my mother," Travis interjected, "My Pa had died a few years before and she was barely getting by. Cooper was very charming until he actually married her. I was 5 when they got married. Adrien was 9."
"They has Arliss when I was 12 and Travis was 8," Adrien continued, "He's a mess too, but not like the twins. He will just say whatever is on his mind. Katie passed away when Arliss was two. After than he married Lydia, and the youngest, Gabrielle was born when I was 17."
"So how old were you when you left your father's house, Adrien?" Ben asked intrigued by the girl's history that she'd never really divulged before.
"Well, I spent most of my time with Madame Daniella from the time I was 8 until she died. She found me dancing in the general store one day and thought I was exceptionally graceful. She's who taught me to dance. She lived on her brother's horse ranch. She had danced in Russia and toured Europe before she retired. I stayed there as much as I could. She got me an audition in the Boston Company when I was 14. I didn't get in the first or second time, but I came home. I worked, and worked, and worked. I improved, and the winter that I was 15, I had my third audition and got in. I've been on my own ever since."
"She was the youngest principal dancer the company had ever had," Adam added, "When I met her, she'd only been around about 6 months and they were already looking at her for lead roles."
"Adam, that's the past. It's nothing to really be proud of," Adrien chided, making it obvious that she wanted to drop the subject.
"No, that is something to be proud of!" Ben exclaimed, "It's an accomplishment to do something like that, especially with as rare and selective as good ballet companies are. I remember watching it when I was living in Boston and courting Adam's mother. It was just getting started then. But everything that I saw was nothing sort of magnificent."
"You probably watched Madame Daniella dance then!" Adrien's eyes lit up with excitement, "She danced with them to get them started when they were just beginning. She choreographed for them for a while too after she moved to Colorado. She would have the few students she was training go through each piece in the attic studio of the house. The first show we did in Boston was the last one she choreographed."
"I bet she was proud to see her student be so successful," Ben added.
"She never got to see that," Adrien answered with sadness in her voice, "She had a heart attack shortly before I had my third audition."
"That's terrible, Adrien," Ben replied, "but you used what she taught you and I'm sure you would have made her proud."
"I hope so," Adrien answered
"You should have seen her dance, Pa," Adam added, "She's magical on stage."
"Why did you stop dancing?" Ben asked.
"There's a few reasons. First, when everything happened in Boston, I lost my heart for it. I was a broken shell for quite some time and I knew to quit before my reputation on stage was completely ruined. Secondly, in one of my last rehearsals, I too exhausted to be there and I didn't land a jump correctly. I got a compound fracture in my foot and severe tears in the ligaments in my ankle. It all healed, but there is still some pretty severe pain when I try to go on pointe."
"It's a shame that Adam is the only one who has gotten to see this magic." Ben said, "I'm sure that you are just as enchanting on stage as my son says you are though."
"Maybe someday, I will try again. I'd love to pass down the art to someone, but I don't think I will ever dance professionally again."
She took one last quick drink and stood up from the table.
"Well, now that I have officially darkened the mood with talk of my family and a failed dance career, I should excuse myself to finish packing. I've had all of my things hanging up to try to get the smell of smoke out of them." She moved to the door of the downstairs guestroom where everything from her house had resided since the fire.
"Adrien, we leave in the morning!" Adam exclaimed.
"I know," she answered, "and I will be packed and ready in plenty of time. We have a lot to do and there are many dress decisions to be made."
The stagecoach ride to Colorado Springs was long, dusty, and uncomfortable. Travis and Adam tried to be good company, but Adrien was still nervous anyway.
This was the first time that she would face her father's family since she had shot him a year ago. She knew that her father was not well liked, but family was still family. She had always seemed like a traitor to some because she left. She tried to keep those thoughts in the back of her mind.
"Darling, are you all right?" Adam asked one night on the porch of the way station. They had been on the road for five days already. The trip was exhaustingly boring. There were at least five more days of travel by stage ahead of them, if the weather didn't hold them up.
"I have a lot on my mind, dear," Adrien answered. She didn't want to play games.
"Well, we're not going anywhere tonight," he answered, "You might as well tell me. After all, I will be your husband before long, and I'd rather you talk to me than keep me awake by tossing and turning all night."
He put his arm around her as she spoke. She smiled and cuddled up to his side.
"Don't worry. I'll let you get plenty of sleep."
"Well, out with it. What's going on in the head of yours?"
"Lots of things," she took a deep breath before continuing, "This is the first time I've seen my family in 2 years and a lot has happened since then. I don't worry about my brothers. They know what happened, at least my side of it anyway. And they felt the same way about Ethan Cooper that I did, but not every cousin holds the same feelings. I don't want a lot of conflict. I just want to see my family. I want you to meet them and see them at their best."
"Adrien, I wouldn't worry," he pulled her closer, "If they know you at all, they'll see that you were doing the right thing. And if you need back up, I was there. Remember, your very brave move is the only reason I'm standing here."
"Don't remind me," she sighed again.
Adam turned Adrien to face him.
"It still amazes me that you don't want any attention for any of it. You do amazing things, and then you constantly don't want anyone to say or do anything to give you attention for it."
"As long as I have your attention, I'm happy."
"Oh Adrien…" Adam whispered as he was overcome with the look of her hair in the moonlight and her sweet words. He couldn't hold back anymore and kissed her with enough passion that she couldn't catch her breath.
"Adam…." she tried to whisper as every muscle in her stomach tightened. His arms held her so close to him that she couldn't move. The feeling was pure bliss.
"…Adam… We aren't exactly alone," she reminded him. He suddenly remembered that Travis was just on the other side of the wall, but he was probably close to asleep.
"Adrien, you make things so difficult sometimes," he whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry, dear," she whispered back, "I don't mean to be."
She pulled away from him a little bit and took a deep breath to try to clear her head. That was always the issue when it came to Adam. He was intoxicating. He could make her head feel fuzzy faster than a glass of wine could.
"We should probably go inside and get some sleep," she said, still a bit breathless.
"I don't see how you could be able to sleep. You slept most of the day," he answered.
"Then, your shoulder shouldn't be so comfortable."
"I'll work on that," he gave her a kiss on the forehead and pulled her back close to him. He held onto her as tight as he could.
There is truly nothing better than this right here, Adam thought, well, one things would be better. But she is right….
"Come on," she whispered, "Let's go inside."
Six more days on the stage put them in Colorado Springs. The stage pulled into the tiny little town that reminded him a lot of what Virginia City was before he left for college.
The door to the stage opened, and Adrien quickly rushed out the door.
"Hey, Sis!" a voice called.
"Simon!" she answered back while practically jumping off the steps out of the stage into someone's waiting arms. If that person hadn't called out what they did, Adam would have been very worked up.
But, in light of how long it's been since she's seen her family, he thought, I can expect to have to accept her doing this a lot.
Adam went climbed out of the stage, followed by Travis. He was surprised to find Adrien hugging a man who was about as tall as Hoss, but much slimmer. He had long red hair, and he was wearing buck skin pants and a buck skin jacket with ling fringe. He looked like he could easily fit in with the Cheyenne Indians that he knew were in the area from Adrien's stories. Instead of carrying a pistol, he had a tomahawk on one hip and a large knife on the other. Adam made a mental note to make sure to ask either Travis or Adrien about this later when they weren't surrounded by people.
"Sis, you look awesome!" the stranger said, letting her go, "It's been too long." Then, reaching a handout to Travis, he said, "Trav, how have you been?"
"Just fine," Travis answered, "but it's good to be home!"
"Dear brother," Adrien said to the man, "I have someone that you need to meet. Come here." She took his hand and led him a few steps over to Adam. "This is Adam. Adam, this is my adorable baby brother, Simon."
Adrien's excitement about their introduction was obvious. Adam hadn't been nervous about this moment at all, but everything suddenly flashed before him.
So much has happened. A lot of it is my fault… he thought suddenly, they could actually hate me.
"So this is the famous Adam!" the man now known as Simon exclaimed, "It's good to finally meet you! Any friend of Adrien's is a friend of mine!"
"It's good to meet you too," Adam replied offering his hand to Simon, "But I wouldn't describe myself as a friend of your sister"
"Oh yes, I know, we can't shake hands like this," Simon answered, "We must shake hands like brothers."
He then grabbed Adam by the for arm and used his other hand to put Adam's hand on his forearm.
"This is how my Cheyenne brothers say hello," Simon explained.
Well, at least things are starting well, he thought.
"Adam!" Adrien called his attention to a couple of people behind him. He turned to find a couple, the man looked much like Simon. They could have been brothers. The woman was much shorter than Adrien, dressed well, and had dark red hair.
"This is Michael and Emma" she continued.
"It's good to finally meet you!" Michael answered, shaking Adam's hand as well.
"Yes, it's wonderful to put a face to the name in the letters," Emma added.
"Its nice to meet you as well," Adam answered.
"Where are the rest of my brothers and the girls?" Adrien asked.
"They're back at home," Simon answered, "The boys are supposed to be finishing up some chores, and the girls are…you know…. doing whatever they do." A large grin spread over his face.
"Simon!" Adrien screamed with a laugh, "If there's a surprise waiting for me at the house, then you just gave it away."
"He's horrible," Emma laughed.
Simon and Travis grabbed Adrien's trunk while Adam grabbed his bag, and they headed towards the wagon.
"Of course, my sister must pack everything under the sun when she goes anywhere." Simon exclaimed with a strain in his voice at the weight of the truck.
"Do you realize how long we will be gone? And how much stuff that requires?" Adrien argued.
Everyone laughed.
"Oh, Adam," Michael laughed, patting him on the shoulder, "by the time you get headed east, you will be so glad that there's a thousand miles between these two most of the time."
"They don't seem worse than my brothers and I," Adam answered.
"That's just because no one's thrown anything yet," Travis added.
"Michael, where's your Pa?" Adrien asked, suddenly stopping. He's never missed being here to meet me every time I come home. Is he alright?"
"Don't worry about it," Michael answered, "Pa hasn't been right since Ma passed away."
Adrien looked out into the near distance towards the general store.
"Apparently not." She said, waving in that direction. A man on the sidewalk in front of the store was leaning on a broom. He nodded at her in response.
Another thing to remember to ask about, Adam thought.
After a short ride in the wagon, the group arrived at Cedar Ridge. They were greeted by the rest of the Cooper siblings. The girls had made a surprise dinner for them. The family sat together in the sitting room and talked about a multitude of subjects. They talked about what had been going on at the ranch that Adrien didn't already know about, and then that reminded a few of stories from their childhood. Conrad and Cordell spent a good amount of their time being overgrown pests and trying to remember every embarrassing story of Adrien they could think of. Simon and Adrien immediately fell into tag teaming to keep them under control. Adam could tell exactly who had really been doing most of the parenting in the house throughout their lives.
With a lot of asking and a little bit of begging from Adrien's sisters, Adrien sat down at the piano and played a few songs. This was a side of Adrien that Adam rarely saw. She didn't write music that much in his presence in Boston, and she rarely played anything but the guitar around him now. Even that was a rare occasion, she would usually defer to letting Adam play.
The night wore on and most of the younger kids went on up to bed, and the twins went to go sleep in the bunkhouse.
"Oh, goodness, I forgot how exhausting that could be," Adrien exclaimed once they had gone out.
"They egg each other on constantly," Emma said, with laughter, "If you can get them apart, they aren't so bad."
"Thankfully, they insist on sleeping in the bunkhouse. Now I don't have to worry about finding things in bed with me on the morning."
"They need a thousand miles apart just like you two do most of the time," Michael replied, referring to Adrien and Simon.
"Hey, we haven't been that bad in years," Adrien defended.
"But you haven't been home that much," Simon fired back.
Simon got up to help himself to some brandy now that the night was dying down. He poured some for everyone else as well.
"Alright, Mr. Sherriff," Adrien started, as she sat up look her cousin in the eye, "What is up with your father?"
"I wouldn't worry about it, Adrien," Michael answered, "He's mainly just feeling old and lonely."
"That wasn't an old and lonely nod that I got earlier from him. That was I'm mad and I don't want to see you."
"Michael, tell her." Emma chided.
"No," Michael answered, "he's being difficult and he can get over it."
"Hello!" Adrien shouted, "I'm still here. If you won't tell me, Simon will."
"Oh, no!" Simon replied, "I am not getting in the middle of this. I know not to jump in front of a bullet. I'll leave that up to you, Sis."
"Thanks, Simon," she answered, "I'll be taking that one personally."