Heehee! The fateful first meeting of Adam Cartwright and Candy Canaday! Wonder how it'll go? If so, feel free to read on! :D
Candy took off early, as he'd promised. Just stopping by the main house to pick up the fresh rations Hop Sing had been 'happy' to shove at his chest. While pushing him back out the kitchen door and saying many, many things Candy couldn't for the life of him understand.
Little pack secured behind the cantle of his saddle, Candy mounted up and pointed his horse in the direction of the upper pasture. Giving a sigh at the miles of trail he knew he had to make before breakfast and figured he wouldn't actually be able to cover before lunch.
He turned for a last glance back at the house, eyes lingering on the second story window he knew belonged to the friend he was subbing for.
Knowing the shadow he thought he saw move in the reflective surface was just a trick of the nearby pines, he heaved another sigh and took off for a cattle drive he'd made a snap decision to join.
He rode with his head high though, knowing, in the very least, that it had been the right snap decision. No regrets. He was gonna enjoy the work and the chance to work more closely with a Cartwright he'd so far really only met in passing. One he'd been eager to have a real conversation with ever since Joe'd first mentioned he had another, even older, older brother.
Candy's first impression of the second oldest Cartwright had been in the form of stories. The majority of which came from the excited mouth of the youngest Cartwright.
Joe'd taken it upon himself to spread the gospel about his wayfaring sibling. Telling tales of the different innovations Adam had brought the Ponderosa, surrounding areas, and even far flung locales.
The fact that he'd made it go right to get an eastern schooled education under his belt, taken what amounted to a foreman's role on the family ranch, and even designed and overseen the building of the main house, all before Joe had been old enough to drink, had instilled a lasting sense of awe early in Joe's formative years.
So well that Candy could practically see the stars in his friend's eyes whenever he told a story about his absent relation.
But since the wanderluster had returned home from the sea and the far away country called 'Australia', most Candy'd seen of him had seemed serious, strict, and reserved.
'Course, that was as just some employee Adam had never worked with and the moment the guy's boots had touched Ponderosa soil he'd been absolutely back into character as foreman and architect. With some colorful new stories to share around the dining table, Joe'd mentioned. Smiling up a storm at having his entire family together again. Happy as a pig in-
Heh. Wrong simile.
Joe'd made formal introductions soon as he'd been able to drag Candy and Adam near each other, and since then they'd said 'Hi' a few times, but that was the extent of it.
Yeah. Candy was aware Adam knew him about well enough to recognize him at a distance as well as in passing, so as he drew nearer the boundaries of the upper pasture, he wasn't surprised to see a mounted figure in black watching his and his own horse's progress up the hills. Waiting.
"Where is that delinquent brother of mine?" Candy heard directed at himself as he topped the last bluff and came within shouting distance of a sour looking Adam Cartwright.
"Yer family's not all that big on friendly greetings, are y'all?"
The sour edge melted some and the cow punch on the chestnut spoke again, quieter this time with the steady approach of the coming rider. "Where are my manners?" Adam pushed a thumb against the underside of his brim in a tiny tip of the hat. "I hope the ride was pleasant."
"Oh, now that's much more welcomin'!" Candy said with a toothy grin. Pulling up close enough for casual conversation. "And yes it was, thanks fer askin'."
Adam gave a nod and rested his free hand on top the one preoccupied holding his horse's reigns. "Well, not that it isn't nice to see you up here on the range, but I distinctly remember asking that conniving little brother of mine to meet me here and no later than breakfast."
"Well now, by my estimation, it's only 'bout lunch time," Candy offered, attempting to keep the conversation on an even kilter.
"Of yesterday."
"Oh." Right. Candy'd forgotten that part.
"Yep," Adam said, sighing big enough to move his shoulders before going on. "I've taken to rounding up strays until such time as he deigned to show his face. Keepin' the team occupied with it too," Adam said, using the back of his free hand to wipe at his jaw. Perhaps satisfying some stray itch there. "How did he rope you into taking his place? And please don't tell me you lost a bet."
Candy sat a beat, wondering exactly which angle he should come at the subject from; not quite sure whether Adam Cartwright was the kind who preferred straight forward and to the point, or if he didn't appreciate a little preamble before getting down to brass tacks.
"It was a bet, wasn't it? Of all the no good- Next time I see that Joseph Cartwright, I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind. A big piece," Adam ended.
"How d'ya know I'm not the one to blame here?" Candy asked. Affronted.
"Are you?"
"Well, no, but-"
"I knew it. That boy's impossible-"
"Uh," Candy interjected, getting Adam's attention before things could get too far out of hand. "Pardon my forwardness, but, last time I checked: Joe wasn't any kind of 'boy' I ever met."
"Thank you." Adam nodded. "That charlatan-"
"Uh, don't ya think there could be some reason I'm here instead of your brother?" Candy asked, giving his horse a pat on the neck when she nickered at him. Bored of standing still so long.
"Oh, I expect to hear all about it when I get back there. Tall tales and misdirections abound in the house of-"
"Adam?"
"Yes?" The older rancher asked, sounding rather terse for being cut off so many times.
"Joe was thrown from his horse, day before last. Your pa's the one asked me to come up here and-"
"Joe was thrown? Is he alright? No. If he was, you wouldn't be here; our father'd see to that." Candy had to blink to stop his head from spinning at the sheer speed the older brother went from strictly disappointed to near white with worry.
The difference a little listening could make.
"What happened?" Adam asked, nudging his horse to bring him closer to the other mounted man.
"There was a snake in the trail back from town, Cochise threw him off one side of the hill, I found him before a different snake could take a bite outta him, and-"
"Is he alright?" Adam asked. Force behind the words. Face dark.
"He will be, just soon as-"
"What happened? Is he-"
"Let me finish?" At the impatient prompting motion of both a reign filled and an empty hand, Candy went on.
"He's alright. Landed just bad enough to sprain a wrist, but don't worry: Your 'charlatan' will be back to work soon."
Candy watched as a gamut of guarded expressions flitted across the eldest Cartwright brother's face, hoping his explanation hadn't been too... insubordinate.
When Adam's face settled on a rather neutral relieved, he motioned for Candy to follow, reigning the red horse with the white blaze around toward a little chuck wagon Candy hadn't noticed until then. Though, he admitted, the horse had probably been intentionally blocking it from view.
He wouldn't put it past the rider. After all, he still didn't know Joe's oldest brother that well. But, if his reaction to the news had been anything to go by, it was a muted sort of obvious that the guy cared for that 'no good, impossible, conniving, delinquent boy' of a brother of his.
Candy dismounted a second behind his boss for the next few days and tied his horse to the wagon, next to Adam's. Then, hoping the beasts got along at least as well as the riders were so far, he shadowed the arguably more mature man over to the chuck side of the wagon and collected a plate of lunch from someone named 'Cookie'.
When the guy in all black patted his shoulder and motioned to some stump 'seats' and 'tables' they had a cooking fire situated near, he accompanied and picked the second least sap dotted perch. Then swallowed about half his plate before his rump had a chance to complain how hard the rough hewn wood was.
"You mentioned there was a second snake?" Piped up Candy's neighbor, who it turned out had barely picked at his own helping of food.
Deciding he really couldn't judge Adam harshly for the way he'd spoken to a semi-aquaintace about his youngest brother, he shifted just a hair so he wouldn't need to turn his head to see him, and explained.
"Yeah, at the bottom of the hill. I shot it and Joe jumped up like somethin' bit him, cursin' me for a devil. Weren't till he smiled I knew he was... fine."
"Mm," said Adam. Mouth finally preoccupied with a bit of his lunch.
Or else plain mute with tension. Candy hadn't seen him fill his gob after all.
"Got him in a sling and back to the ranch house fine and dandy, but," Candy paused a second, wondering whether expressing worry over someone was the kind of thing you could do in the presence of that someone's worried older brother, before licking his lips and continuing, "findin' Cochise alone on the trail like that?" He finished with a shake of his head.
"Worst feeling you can imagine?" It was Candy's turn for a mute reaction. Just a surprised blink and nod.
"Been there myself. More'n once," Adam admitted. Then, with a grimacing nod, "Actually shot the kid, out on a wolf hunt. Back when he was a kid," he added. Much to Candy's horror. "Always was better in the underbrush than me. Good stalker."
"Is that why he has a scar right-"
"Yes," the guy who'd once nearly committed fratricide confirmed. After a quick glance to see where Candy'd indicated.
"Looked like a nasty place to get shot."
"Anyplace is a nasty place to get shot," Adam insisted. Looking uncomfortably like he spoke from experience. Especially readjusting his shoulders the way he did.
Off hand, Candy wondered whether any member of this all male family hadn't been shot. Then shuddered before filling his mouth once more, right as he heard Adam do the same.
"Thank you, by the way," Adam started around a hearty swallow. "For finding my brother. And for shooting the snake."
"Ha," Candy huffed, attempting to not spit out any crumbs. "Believe me, I'm just as happy about Joe bein' alright as you," he said. Then cleared his suddenly dry mouth with a swallow when he realized what he'd just said. To his boss.
Presumption could get a hand into a lot of trouble, depending on the character of the superior you used it with, and presuming to know how much they cared about family? Pretty touchy subject for some.
"...I just might at that," came Adam's breezy reply. Then the guy filled his mouth again and it was business for the rest of the day.
After the conversation they'd had, Candy both felt as if he'd narrowly dodged a bullet, and was just plain glad he didn't get treated any different from the other hands moving that portion of beef herd to better grazing; no better nor worse. Just how he figured he deserved to be treated.
By lunch the next day, he'd made up his mind that Adam Cartwright was, if nothing else, a fair man. One with a fast temper regulated by an astounding sense of self control, and a goodly amount of cow sense to go with his book smarts. Which seemed considerable on their own.
Candy decided they could probably, someday, be good friends. If Adam learned to laugh a little when Candy cracked a joke at him. Though, the poor educated guy would need to be able to tell he'd cracked a joke first...
They had time to work on it, Candy thought as he tossed a loop over a steer taking a wrong turn. Not interested in letting it become a stray.
Who knew? Maybe when they got back to the ranch, Adam wouldn't be disinterested in working together again, and if that was the case, maybe Candy'd even get to know the guy a little.
More outlandish miracles were known to happen. Miracles like Joe actually enjoying his forced time off and maybe even managing to not get in trouble without Candy around to help get him out of it.
Or to help him enjoy it, depending on what kind of trouble it was.
Yeah. Candy wondered how his lonely friend was faring as he pulled his 'fancy little kerchief' up to keep the dust out of his nose and helped the little steer on the end of his rope rejoin the herd.
Cow back with its friends, Candy recoiled his lasso and decided Joe couldn't possibly have enjoyed being on this mini cattle drive as much as some good old fashioned idle time back at the hacienda.
...But just in case, "Ya!" Candy nudged the cattle to keep up their pace and nudged his horse to help keep the cattle on the straight and narrow. Because, being honest with himself, one could never overestimate the power of boredom. Especially not when Joe Cartwright was the one with nothing to do.
And completely besides that point; Candy wanted to be there. Doubly so when his friend needed someone to help keep him company.
So, checking the herd was still lumbering in the right direction, Candy, hoping it'd help get him back to the ranch house just that bit sooner, gave another good, "Ya!"