Chapter Five

On September 7, the Cartwright men and Fionn headed into Virginia City to cast their votes in favor of statehood. Afterward, they feasted at the International House – a celebration Fionn continued by riding up and down on the hotel's newly installed elevator until Isaac Bateman, the owner, told him to either get out or put on a bellhop's uniform and help people with their luggage.

A few days later, they celebrated again out on the Ponderosa when word reached Virginia City that the good men of Nevada had approved the state constitution by an overwhelming 10,375 votes to 1,184. Territorial Governor James Nye immediately printed up a couple certified copies and mailed them off to Washington, D.C. President Lincoln's chances at reelection in November seemed a little brighter.

As September progressed, Molly finally got over her nausea and set to work in earnest on Josie's wedding gown. Josie had chosen a simple white gown with long sleeves and a little lacework at the collar. She couldn't imagine trying to navigate the staircase and living room in a four-foot-wide hoop skirt. Sally would be her only bridesmaid – she didn't want to impose upon Molly in her condition, and Patience would be delivering her baby only a couple weeks before the wedding – and she already had an emerald-green gown that would be perfect for the occasion. So apart from the food, which Hop Sing had already taken upon himself to arrange, there was little wedding preparation to be done.

This was just as well because Fionn was so engrossed with making his first batch of whiskey that he couldn't have helped much anyway. He'd finished making his mash and then scurried to harvest his early fall crops while he waited for it to ferment. He worked relentlessly, pausing only to come to the Ponderosa on the evening of the 23rd for Josie's birthday. Adam had to poke him in the ribs twice to keep him from falling asleep face-first in his slice of cake. Fionn sat up a little straighter, but his eyes still drooped, and he nearly leapt out of his skin when Josie shrieked with delight over the microscope Ben and Hannah had bought for her. Molly frowned at her younger brother and then caught Adam's eye. He nodded, understanding her request without her having to speak it aloud.

Two days later, Adam took a day off from the Ponderosa and rode out to Fionn's farm to see what he could do to help. He made a round of the fields but didn't find Fionn, so he rode over to the house, figuring he was probably in the barn working on his whiskey. His eyebrows shot up when he caught sight of the house. The once gray and weathered structure was now a bright blue, except for the trim, which was a gleaming white. Adam shook his head.

"That must have taken him forever," he muttered. Fionn couldn't afford to hire help. He must have spent days painting the house by himself while he was also working on his whiskey, tending his remaining lambs, and harvesting crops. No wonder he'd fallen asleep at the supper table.

He slid off Sport in the front yard, looped the animal's reins around the hitching post, and strode over to the barn. He thought it was strange that the barn doors were closed. The weather was still so mild that if it were him, Adam would have left the doors open to let in the fresh air. He swung the doors open and stepped inside.

"Morning, Fionn!" he called.

All he got in response was a sad "mooooo" from Fionn's milk cow. Fionn wasn't anywhere in the barn, and one glance at the cow's swollen udder told Adam that he hadn't been in the barn at all that morning. His pulse quickening, Adam darted out of the barn and back across the yard to the house.

As soon as his feet landed on the porch, he heard Conall on the other side of the door, whining and scratching. Adam flung open the door, and the wolfhound bounded out. Not stopping to greet Adam, the large dog barely made it to the hitching post before he raised his leg and released a stream of urine, an unmistakable look of relief on his scruffy face. Adam burst into the house and took stock of the small living room. No Fionn. No glowing embers in the fireplace, no scent of breakfast lingering in the air.

"Fionn?" he called.

Still no response.

Adam made a hard right turn and barged through the door into Fionn's bedroom.

Fionn lay motionless in his bed, covers pulled up to his nose.

Adam swallowed the hard lump trying to rise in his throat and laid a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder.

"Fionn?" he said again, giving the younger man a little shake.

Fionn's eyes flew open and he jumped so hard he almost smashed Adam in the face with his forehead.

"A Dhia!" he shouted. "Adam! What are you doing here?" He glanced wildly around the room and then dropped his head back on his pillow with a groan. "Do I want to know what time it is?"

"Eight-thirty," Adam said. "Are you sick?" He reached out and felt Fionn's forehead, relieved to find him cool.

"Damnú air!" Fionn snarled. This was not an Irish phrase Adam had heard before, but he guessed it wasn't polite. "Not sick, just overslept." Fionn flung back the covers and swung his legs out of bed. "Poor Nora must be ready to burst," he grumbled.

"That your cow?"

"Aye."

"Take your time, Fionn. Get some breakfast. I'll milk your cow." Adam turned and darted out of the room before Fionn could protest.

As he finished milking Nora about fifteen minutes later, Fionn ambled into the barn, chewing on a cold biscuit.

"I put a pot of coffee on," he said around a bite of biscuit.

Adam stood and patted Nora's rump before handing the milk bucket to Fionn. He pitched a forkful of fresh hay into Maeve's stall and followed Fionn back to the house.

"How'd you find time to paint the house?" he asked, admiring the fresh blue-and-white building.

"Little bit at a time over several days," Fionn replied. "Worked on it a couple hours first thing in the morning, then tended me crops the rest of the day. Been distillin' me whiskey after supper."

Adam shook his head. "Careful you don't work yourself to death before your wedding day."

Fionn turned his head and looked at him as they mounted the porch steps. "Have to have everythin' ready by then, though, don't I? I don't have much to offer Josie, but I want what I've got to be as nice as possible." Fionn paused to open the front door, and only then did Adam realize that the porch floorboards weren't squeaking. He glanced down and saw half a dozen bright new boards gleaming up at him. Fionn really had been working too hard.

"Let me help you today," Adam said. "That's why I rode out. Anything ready to harvest?"

Fionn sighed, and Adam braced for an argument. "I could use some help," he said, much to Adam's surprise. "Turnips and carrots need to come in. Will Cass offered me a good price if I can get them to him by the end of the week."

"Let's get digging," Adam said with a grin.

Adam actually hated digging up vegetables, but Fionn's banter was as jovial as ever, and the day passed quickly. As they worked, he told him about Hoss's training for the wrestling at the Fall Festival the following week. Busy as he was, Fionn said he wouldn't miss it for, as he put it, "all the boxty in Ulster." Adam made a mental note to ask Molly later what in the world that meant.

By late afternoon, they'd brought in all of Fionn's turnips and carrots and about half of the cabbage, too.

"Anything else you need before I head out?" Adam asked as they washed up back at the house.

"Yeah," Fionn said vaguely. He scrubbed his wet hands through his hair and fidgeted in place. "I, uh, needed to ask you somethin'." Adam waited, but Fionn stared at the floor and didn't continue.

"Yes?" he prompted.

Fionn's gaze snapped up briefly to Adam's face and then back down to the floor. "I, uh, well, me Da's gone, so I haven't really got anyone…" He trailed off, seemingly fascinated by a knot in one of the washroom floorboards.

"And?"

"And you're the closest thing I've ever had to a brother, and I was wonderin' if you'd be me best man," he finished at a gallop.

Adam stood speechless for a moment, digesting what Fionn had just asked, before breaking into a wide grin. "I'd be honored!" he said, grabbing Fionn's hand and shaking it firmly. "Guess I better have Molly check over my suit. Wouldn't want to look shabby up there next to you."

Fionn laughed in relief, running a hand through his hair. "Sure you wouldn't. Thank you, Adam. This means a lot to me."

Adam reached out and ruffled Fionn's hair like he often did to Little Joe's. "Younger brothers are my specialty," he said. "So let me give you some brotherly advice. Take it easier, will you? You show up sick on Pa's doorstep again, and Molly and Josie will be fighting over who gets to kill you."

"Aye, I will," Fionn said with a smile. "I'm finished with the house now anyway. I'm nearly finished distillin' the whiskey, and then I just put it in the barrels and let it age a bit, so that work will be done, too."

"Good. And if you find yourself in over your head, for the love of all that is holy, Fionn, ask us for some help. We're getting the ranch buttoned up for winter, but one of us can always come by. Promise me you'll ask."

Fionn frowned but promised.

"Good man." Adam ruffled his hair again. "I'll see you at the Fall Festival end of next week." He headed for the front door.

"Adam!" Fionn called after him. Adam turned. What d'ya think Hoss's chances are of winnin' that wrestlin' match?"

Adam chuckled and shook his head. "I think Bearcat Sampson is going to sweep the floor with him. Why? You planning to make a bet?"

Fionn grinned. "I'll bet you a dollar Hoss wins the match."

"I'll take that bet." The men shook hands on it.

The Tweedy Circus was all anyone in Virginia City could talk about in the final days leading up to the Fall Festival. They were excited about the usual games, food, and dancing, but Virginia City had never hosted a circus before, so this was special. Angus Tweedy didn't boast a large circus – just Bearcat Sampson and a few animals – but it was still more than the good people of Virginia City had ever had.

The Cartwrights arrived in town early the day of the festival so they could have front-row seats for Hoss's big match with Bearcat. Hoss and Bearcat Sampson already sat on opposite sides of the ring inside the main tent, each man with a jacket draped around his shoulders. Little Joe was rubbing Hoss's shoulders and muttering encouragements and reminders in his ear as the rest of the Cartwrights shuffled inside. Ben and Adam each had to take one of Patience's arms and lower her to the wooden bench nearest the wrestling ring. Still a month from her baby's arrival, Patience had grown so large that Ben wondered if she wasn't perhaps carrying twins. He was amazed she'd waddled into town at all.

"Ben, I feel obligated to tell you that if Hoss gets hurt, I'm going to kill Little Joe," she seethed. She glanced over at Adam and without asking, swiped the bag of peanuts he'd bought himself out of his hand. Adam was about to protest, but Molly pinched his arm and shook her head furiously to keep him quiet.

"My dear, I will completely understand," Ben said, handing Adam his own bag of peanuts. Adam took the bag and sat down quietly between his father and his wife. Hannah offered Ben her peanuts, but he shook his head, and she and Josie settled themselves on the bench. Josie clutched her medical bag in her lap. Fionn darted in just then, apologized to Josie for being late, and sat next to her.

"As you all know," he said, "the Tweedy Circus is prepared to pay one hundred dollars to any man who can throw and pin Bearcat Sampson in a five-minute brawl."

Bearcat Sampson, a bare-chested hulk of a man, stood and waved to the crowd, who booed as he whipped his jacket around and growled.

"Great Mother Danu, he's as big as Hoss," Fionn breathed.

On the other side of the ring, the color drained from Hoss's face.

"Hey, Joe," Hoss said, "he does look professional to me." He shook his head at Bearcat's wrestling tights and shiny red sash.

"Who, him?" Joe scoffed. "He's all brains and no brawn. You'll murder him. He's never run into anything like you before." He grinned and rubbed Hoss's back.

"You reckon?"

"We'll pin him, we'll flatten him! We'll literally rip him limb from limb!"

Hoss frowned. "We? Where you gettin' that 'we' stuff?"

Little Joe grabbed Hoss's chin and turned his face to look at him. "Hoss, do you think for one minute that you'd be sitting here right now if it wasn't for me?"

"No, I reckon you're right, Joe. Thanks."

Joe smiled and patted his brother's cheek. "What are brothers for?"

"And for a try at the one hundred dollars today," Tweedy continued, "we've got, uh…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "Hoss Cartwright!"

The crowd stood and cheered. Swallowing hard, Hoss rose and entered the ring. Behind him, all the Cartwrights whistled and clapped, though none harder than Little Joe.

"I think I'll drown him," Patience said over the applause. "That should be nice and slow." Molly patted her knee.

"God love him, but I think that Missouri mule-like brother of mine is about to be had," Adam said to Ben as the applause died down.

"He looks in pretty good condition to me," Ben countered with a grin as he admired his massive middle son.

"Well, you're not forgetting he's being managed by Little Joe." Adam swung a hand in the direction of his youngest brother, who was still cheering wildly at the edge of the ring.

Ben's smile faded, and he shifted in his seat. "Yeah, I know. Just the same, I'll bet you your next month's wages on Hoss."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Well now, I don't like betting against my own kin," he said, conveniently forgetting to mention his wager with Fionn, "but money is money."

"You're on," Ben said as they both refocused their attention on the wrestling ring where Angus Tweedy, wearing an eponymous suit, called for everyone's attention again.

"And now, folks! The big contest will begin!" He gestured for Bearcat and Hoss to join him in the ring.

"All right, this is it," Joe said, giving Hoss an encouraging slap on the shoulder. Hoss stood, stretched, and tripped over the edge of the ring, falling flat on his face at Tweedy's feet. The big man leapt to his feet and dusted himself off.

"Now you both know the rules," Tweedy said, pulling Hoss and Bearcat in close. He poked a finger in Hoss's chest. "You pin old Bearcat in under five minutes, and the hundred dollars is yours."

Hoss nodded. "Let's go." He crouched into his starting position.

"Go!" Tweedy said and jumped out of the ring.

Within seconds, Bearcat had grabbed Hoss around the shoulders and flipped him into the dirt. The crowd roared its disapproval.

Adam nodded and tried unsuccessfully to hide a smirk while Ben's mouth set in a tight line.

Little Joe wasn't fazed. "Come on, Hoss, get him!" he shouted from the edge of the ring.

As Hoss rose to his feet, Bearcat grabbed him around the head and flipped him again.

Josie cringed.

"He's going to feel that tomorrow," she said, shaking her head.

At the edge of the ring, Little Joe's grin vanished while Tweedy's grew broader.

"I'm going to kill you, Joe!" Patience hollered.

His backside covered in dirt and sawdust, Hoss rose again, keeping some distance between himself and Bearcat as the two men circled each other.

"Give it to him! Give it to him!" Ben shouted while Adam rolled his eyes.

Bearcat got Hoss in another headlock and cracked his knee into Hoss's forehead. Hoss flew backward out of the ring to another loud chorus of "Boos" from the crowd. They stood and hollered at Hoss to get up.

Dazed, Hoss nevertheless stumbled back into the ring, where Bearcat connected a punch to the side of his head.

Adam closed his eyes and smiled smugly as Patience promised once more to bring Little Joe's existence to a premature end.

But now Hoss was mad. When Bearcat tried to get him in another headlock, Hoss lifted him up and flung him halfway across the ring. The crowd went wild with cheers.

"Yeah!" Joe shrieked, clapping furiously. For the first time since the match began, Angus Tweedy looked worried. Ben's smile returned, and Fionn loosened the circulation-stopping hold he'd had on Josie's knee.

Both men were slowing, but Hoss managed to grab Bearcat again and flip him over his shoulder. He came up behind the fallen man and wrapped his arms around his chest.

"Squeeze him, Hoss!" Joe yelled. "Squeeze him!"

Hoss obliged, eliciting cries of pain from Bearcat Sampson.

"I'm gonna get a month's free wages out of you," Ben prodded Adam, whose smug smile had dissolved into a frown.

"He hasn't won yet," Adam said.

In the ring, Hoss was still squeezing Bearcat, who had gone limp in his arms.

"All right, pin him!" Joe hollered. "Hoss, stop squeezing him and pin him!"

Hoss gave his head a little shake like he'd only just remembered where he was and what he was doing, and flung Bearcat Sampson to the ground, collapsing on top of him. The crowd shouted along as Tweedy reluctantly counted to ten. When he reached the final number, Hoss sprang up and raised his arms in victory as the people of Virginia City descended from their seats and swarmed around him with congratulations. From his seat next to Josie, Fionn cheered louder than any of them.

Ben and Adam rose – Ben now sporting the smug smile that Adam had enjoyed only moments earlier.

"He won," Adam mumbled, staring at his victorious younger brother. "I can't believe he won."

"Well, I hope you didn't have any plans for next month's pay," Ben said, slapping Adam on the back. Adam turned to his father.

"Come on, Pa, you couldn't have been serious about that."

"You gave your word, son. And if there's one thing I always taught you boys, it was to keep your word." He grinned, patted Adam's shoulder again, and escorted Hannah from the tent.

Patience grabbed Adam's arm and hauled herself to her feet.

"Suppose I have to let Joe live now," she groused. "Oh well. That prize money will buy some real nice things for the baby." She waddled over to the ring and shoved her way through the crowd to kiss her husband.

Adam was still staring at Hoss in disbelief when Fionn tapped him on the shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Adam?"

"Huh?"

Fionn stuck out his right hand, palm up. "Pay up."

Adam growled as he thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a silver dollar. He dropped it in Fionn's hand.

"Come along, Hey, You," Fionn said, offering Josie his arm. "Let's go have some of that pumpkin pie I saw at the bakery stand. My treat." Josie laughed and blew Adam a kiss as Fionn led her out of the tent.

Only then did the hairs on the back of Adam's neck prickle, and he turned to see Molly glaring at him, hands on her hips.

"A month's wages, Adam Cartwright?" she demanded. "A month's!"

"Oh, Molly, I'm sure he doesn't mean it. In a day or two, he'll have forgotten all about it."

"I wouldn't bet on that." She stomped out of the tent, leaving Adam quite alone and once more staring at Hoss.

"Hey, Big Brother!" Hoss shouted as the crowd around him began to disperse. Having heard Fionn mention pie, Patience had wobbled out of the tent, too. Hoss shuffled out of the ring while Little Joe spoke with Tweedy about their prize money. "So," he said, sidling up close to Adam, "I ain't never felt so lucky in my life. What say you and me start lookin' for that race horse we talked about for the Virginia Sweeps next summer? Fifteen hundred dollars prize money! It's a sure thing!"

Adam hesitated. Betting on Bearcat Sampson had also been a "sure thing," and now here he was out a month's wages and with an angry, pregnant wife to boot. But half of that fifteen hundred dollars would go a long way to getting Molly to forget about this little kerfuffle…

Adam grinned. "Let's do it."