I hope there is still some interest in my Adam and Sibella stories. This would be set before "It was Murder" and after "Sibella Surrenders." If you choose to leave a review, please keep in mind that all guest reviews will be removed.
A Little Crime Between Friends (Or Adam and Sibella Solve a Mystery)
I
Hearing the knock on the front door, Sibella turned and the lid of the china coffeepot she held, clattered. "Who could it be this late?" she asked.
"There's only one way to find out." Adam Cartwright rose and went to the door; it was late and he was tired but not foolish; he slid his revolver out of his holster hanging on the hat stand in the foyer and sighed from fatigue wondering what new problem was about to raise its ugly head.
For the past hour or so, he had been reading the geologist's report on prospective mine #12. The chances of ground water seeping in were great and pumping out the water to reach the silver didn't look to be cost effective. He had been trying to mesh the numbers before presenting his decision to his father and all he had managed was a dull headache. Now, he wanted nothing more than to take Sibella upstairs and enjoy her, forgetting everything else but the pleasures she offered. She looked lovely that evening and Adam knew she had dressed enticingly to seduce him. As if he needed it.
He opened the heavy oak door. "Well, Jess…come in." Adam stepped back, allowing the visitor and the cool night air into the foyer and holstered his gun.
"Thanks, Adam. I know it's late…," Jess Starling said as he entered the parlor and quickly removed his hat; he hadn't expected Mrs. Cartwright to be awake.
"No, it's all right," Adam said. "Sibella and I were just about to have coffee."
Sibella was sitting on the sofa, the elaborate silver tray, a wedding gift from one of her aunts, held a china coffee set along with matching cups and two plates with cake slices on the low table before her. Jess smiled apologetically at her. "Sorry to interrupt your evening, Sibella. I hope you can forgive me."
"You're always welcome, Jess. Please, I was about to pour. Won't you join us? I'll get another cup and more cake." She stood up to oblige the guest in her house.
"Thank you, but no." Jess looked back at Adam, then turned again to Sibella. "I was wondering if I could talk to Adam in private. If you wouldn't mind."
"Oh. Well…no, I don't mind, but I had just lured Adam out of his office with the coffee and cake and now you want to take him away again." Sibella's plans were falling apart. She had gone to some trouble to make herself exceptionally fetching, even putting a touch of perfume in her cleavage, but Adam hadn't seemed to notice and even Jess, who usually gave her a silent look of appraisal, didn't appear to notice.
"I'm sorry…I…it's just that…" He anxiously turned his hat about in his hand.
"It's all right, Jess" Adam gave Sibella a look of disapproval; she had once said she didn't care much for Jess Starling but as far as Adam was concerned about visitors, he kept the same sentiment as his father: No one was ever turned away from his home. "Let's go in here." Adam motioned to a room off the parlor. The house was under construction, the basic rooms already built so Sibella, Adam's new bride, and he, could move out of the Ponderosa quickly; although she liked his family well enough, she had said, she didn't want to live with them. So, to appease her and make his life easier, Adam referenced some blueprints for a ranch house he had planned years earlier for the spot on which the new house now stood. The intent was to take advantage of the majestic mountain range and to that purpose, the back of the house faced the mountains and his office had a large solid window with two adjacent narrow windows able to be opened, all three showcasing the awe-inspiring view. The front of the house was a wall of fieldstone with a large window. From the porch that ran the length of the house, there was a view of the gradual declivity leading to the lower land and the rudimentary road to Virginia City.
Sibella watched the two men enter the office, her frustration rising. She was wearing her most complimentary blue satin wrapper; it flattered her blue eyes and auburn hair, emphasized her narrow waist and was best appreciated while she was standing. "Shall I bring in the coffee? And the cake?" she called out. "Perhaps you'd care for a piece, Jess?"
Jess turned with an awkward smile. "No, thank you, Sibella. I just have some business to discuss with Adam and then I'll be gone."
"Oh." Sibella smiled faintly. "I suppose Meg wants you home." Sibella noted Jess had an odd expression at the mention of his wife and swiftly entered the office. Adam closed the door behind them.
They had shut her out. Sibella was highly offended. She was the lady of the house, albeit young, and to be so casually dismissed, well, it just wasn't done in polite company! She considered taking her coffee without Adam, perhaps even his slice of cake as well but she had noticed that her dresses were becoming a bit tight even with a corset. Mrs. George, the cook and housekeeper, was excellent with pastries and cream fillings, butterscotch pudding, vanilla cake with fruit compote between the layers as well as gooey chocolate desserts with piles of whipped cream. Sibella had been indulging her sweet tooth; she would have to pass on the desserts for a while.
Still standing, Sibella stared at the closed door; it had such finality and indicated the business of men was being conducted and she, a woman, was excluded. Adam would never share what he and Jess were discussing; he never shared much of the business side of Cartwright and Sons, Ltd., at least that was the name he and his father had decided upon to encompass all the Ponderosa interests—timbering, cattle and mining. So far, Adam only went into the Virginia City office three days a week, soon to extend to five days, but what could Jess possibly want with Adam that couldn't be taken care of during business hours? The mantel clock chimed ten times. Sibella walked over to the office door and leaned in to possibly hear their discussion but all she discerned were the low tones of Jess' voice. And then Adam's, slightly louder in response. Sibella put her right ear against the door, straining to hear.
"But, Adam, look! Read it! It says not to go to the law! I have to do something; I only have two days! I wired my father, been to the bank and was turned down by both. You're my last hope! Adam, we've been friends a long time and I had thought….well, since you loved Meg first that you would understand how desperate I am…"
Sibella heard nothing more except the blood thudding in her ears. "…you loved Meg first..." The words echoed over and over in her head and she barely made it to the nearest chair before her legs gave out. She felt her secure world collapsing about her. Adam had loved Meg. That was what Jess had said. Sibella tried to gather herself, tried to breathe deeply to rid herself of the darkness gathering behind her eyes. She had supposed Adam had known other women, many women before they met as he was in his late 30's. And there had been that business with the kept woman in Carson City. Sibella tried to remember her name…something Italian… No, it was the Italian word for woman-Donna. Yes, that had been her name, Donna. But Sibella knew once she entered Adam's life, he had dismissed Donna, paid her a great deal of money and sent her off. He had never told her about Donna; Sibella had learned of her through an overheard, inadvertent conversation. It frustrated Sibella that Adam hadn't told her much about his past at all—said there was no point to it. But what secret was he keeping about Meg? Had she too been his mistress at one time? What other women did she see in town who had been in love with Adam or he with them?
Sibella's head spun. She had never suspected Meg of being one of Adam's former lovers. "You loved Meg first." The words cut like a knife. If Adam had loved Meg, why hadn't he married her? Why had Meg married Jess instead? Yes, Jess was handsome, tall, with sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes and came from a well-to-do family in Philadelphia so he was a good catch for any woman. And he had always shown an appreciation for Sibella's beauty but was never overtly flirtatious, just playful. But Meg-had she broken Adam's heart and Sibella was mere consolation to his wounded feelings and masculine pride? But Jess and Meg had been married…Sibella tried to remember how long but her mind wouldn't behave; it jumped about from place to place. It was at least…5 years. Yes. It had been a while. And she and Adam had been married…6 months. It was nothing compared to 5 years. Perhaps Adam would soon tire of her and seek out Meg again.
All the past social occasions in which she and Adam had been thrown together with Jess and Meg overwhelmed Sibella as she raced back over them. When Adam had returned from Sacramento City with Sibella as his bride, there had been a reception at the Ponderosa and Jess and Meg had attended. Jess had warmly kissed the bride and Meg, who was tall, had placed her hands on Sibella's arms, kissed her cheek and whispered that she was a lucky woman as Adam was a wonderful man and quite the catch. Sibella had been unsure how to take the remark but then Adam had slipped his arm about her waist and kissed her cheek and Sibella thought of nothing else but being next to him.
Meg was lovely, actually beautiful, with her thick golden hair, perfect complexion and ready smile. She and Jess could have been siblings, they resembled each other so much. But Meg was always touching Adam, placing her hand lightly on his arm as she spoke to him or on his thigh if they were sitting, and when she laughed with him, Meg would tilt her head almost coquettishly. Sibella remembered how Meg's eyes followed Adam whenever they were in the same room. But Sibella thought Meg was too tall and long-limbed for such coy flirtatiousness so she had never taken Meg seriously, just brushed off her awkward attempts to win Adam's attentions, rather like Miss Pear, Adam's secretary at the Virginia City office. Miss Pear was too obvious in her adoration of Adam as well, although Adam never really seemed to notice. But Sibella did. Meg's attraction to Adam was equally noticeable but Sibella never mentioned it; Adam would only dismiss it as unattractive jealousy on Sibella's part or it would plant the idea in his mind about another woman in love with him. But Sibella remembered, Adam always kissed Meg's cheek when they met and when they parted. She had always considered it as affection between old friends—but maybe it was more.
The office door opened and the two men came out. Jess turned toward Sibella. "Good night, Sibella. Again, please excuse my intrusion."
Sibella wanted to reply, her lips parted but no words came out; she nodded. After walking Jess to the door, Adam returned.
"Why don't you go to bed, Sibella. I have some business to finish up."
She managed to stand on her unsteady legs. "The coffee's probably cold anyway." Her voice dropped practically to a whisper. "What did Jess want?" She reached out and caught his sleeve.
"Just some…he needed advice on an investment. I said I'd go with him into town tomorrow; he's stopping by in the morning. I'll spend the day in the office. I need to talk to…well, it's business and I don't want to bore you. Now, go on up to bed. I'll put the dishes in the kitchen. Oh, I've decided to rush the completion of Mrs. George's room before any of the other rooms. Then she can help in the evening and also, you won't be left alone while I'm gone." Adam leaned down and kissed Sibella's cheek. "You look pale, sweetheart. You shouldn't stay up so late."
She wanted to say she knew he was lying to her about an "investment" and Jess' concern being just "business", but then Adam would know she'd eavesdropped and he would lecture her on propriety. Usually, she could charm her way out of such things but tonight…there was something different about Adam since Jess had visited; he seemed distant and worried. "Why, I…" Sibella looked up into her husband's hazel eyes and knew his mind was elsewhere. "I'm not a child, Adam! I once stayed up all night dancing under the stars with a former beau." She hoped to prod him into jealousy, to bring his thoughts back to her but it didn't work.
"I'm sure you did. Sweetheart, I have work to do so stay up or go to bed; please yourself."
Sibella watched her husband go into his office and close the door. Again. Why did he close the door against her? She turned, trying to be angry but failing to muster up adequate ire, went up to their room. The lamps had already been lit, the bed turned down by Mrs. George before she left for the night, and Sibella sat in front of her vanity and stared at herself in the mirror. Was Meg more beautiful than she? Sibella didn't think so but then it was what Adam thought that mattered. He never complimented her, said she was beautiful but from the way he looked at her, the way he touched her, Sibella knew he thought so. But then she had often watched him at some gathering or another, carry on a conversation with other women, older women or younger, educated women or housewives, women who, on the whole, weren't particularly attractive. But when Adam talked to them, gave them his full attention, the women seemed to grow more beautiful. It confounded Sibella and made her wonder if she too glowed from within when he gave her his attention.
"Stop it, Sibella!" she told herself. "You're an idiot, overthinking the whole thing and making yourself miserable!" She brushed her hair quickly and then began to braid it for bed. Her fingers worked without any conscious effort on her part and Sibella kept remembering what Jess had said, that Adam had loved Meg first-he had loved her first. But, Sibella wondered, did Adam still love Meg?