LOST AND FOUND - PART IV
CHRISTMAS EVE
Chapter 29
The snow was perfect for sledding, tightly packed and firm, but not too deep for the horses. Adam was smiling, happy, and relaxed. He had his entire family packed into the sleigh, babies and all, and he listened to his children laughing and having a good time behind him. Thea snuggled up closer and he looked down at her, imagining how she was going to react to her surprise birthday party. Everyone was in on it from Ben down to the twins and the secret had amazingly been kept.
The sun was setting when they arrived and a few cold, brilliant stars were starting to shine in the dark blue sky. The front door opened as soon as they pulled into the yard and Joe was the first one out. He ran up to the sleigh and plucked Annalise out of the nest of blankets she had been wrapped in. He swung her around and she grinned up into her uncle's face, her deep green eyes shining with delight.
Hoss had come up to them and he said, "Hey, give me a turn!" Joe reluctantly handed the girl over to his brother then turned back to the sleigh to dig through the blankets looking for another child. He pushed a fur robe aside and found Benjamin. His serious little face and deep dark eyes looked up at Joe and surprisingly he smiled. His uncle gasped - he had never seen Benjamin smile before, and when he did the baby looked exactly like his grandfather.
"Hey Pa!" Joe called to his father who had just found Matthew.
"What?"
"Benny looks exactly like you now!"
His father came around the sleigh after shifting Matthew to his shoulder. He looked down at the baby Joe was now holding as he absently rubbed Matthew's back. "You're right, I never noticed that before," he said, obviously pleased.
"You couldn't have," Thea said as Adam lifted her out of the sleigh and went to find Thomas. "He didn't until a few days ago," she said, then bent down to pick Alexander up who had climbed out the back of the sleigh.
"Let's get these children in out of the cold," Adam said as he came up to them, holding Thomas close to protect him from the wind. The five adults moved toward the front door and everyone sighed with pleasure as they came into the warm house.
The great room had been decorated for the holidays and a huge tree stood in a corner near the fireplace. Green boughs were everywhere and the furniture had been rearranged, leaving a large open space in front of the hearth.
Adam saw Thea looking around and said, "We better get the babies upstairs and to bed before they completely wake up."
Thea nodded, her thoughts immediately turning to her children. He smiled, pleased that his attempt to distract her had worked.
Thea put Alexander down and reached to take Matthew from Ben as Adam took Benjamin from Joe. They quickly took the babies upstairs.
As soon as the two were out of sight the three men were out the door. Ben hurried into the barn while Joe and Hoss went to unhitch the horses from the sleigh.
When Ben came back out of the barn a stream of people followed him and hurried toward the house. Wes, Dulcy, Marie, the three deputies, Roy, Hal, Charlie, Matt and Cassandra hurried through the front door and went to stand in front of the tree where the twins were waiting. Hoss and Joe quickly came in a few moments later and each collected a twin as they joined the group.
Everyone was smiling in anticipation and when anyone made a sound, the others hushed them. Surprisingly, even the twins were quiet.
Ben had gone to the kitchen to get Hop Sing and the Chinese man hurried after him toward the others. Then everyone looked up when they heard Adam and Thea coming. She had her head turned to him as she listened to what he was saying and didn't look away from him until the two were at the head of the stairs. Adam reached to take her arm before she went down the first step and nodded his head toward the assembled friends and family below them.
Thea turned to look and when she did they all called out, "Happy Birthday!" to her as loud as they could. She was so startled she instinctively jumped back, stepping and stumbling all over Adam's feet as she put a hand to her chest and gasped in shock.
"Ow! Walk on your own feet," her husband said then chuckled as he put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
Everyone was obviously tickled with her dramatic reaction as they laughed, whistled, and applauded.
Thea quickly recovered, flew down the stairs, and threw herself at the first person she reached, Ben, who had taken that position on purpose. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the floor to kiss her on the forehead before setting her down. She surprised him by reaching up to pull his head down to give him a resounding smack on the lips. He laughed at her and let go so she could greet her friends.
Adam slowly came down the second flight of stairs then stopped on the first landing to lean on the railing. He smiled at the way people were pressing forward, trying to get at Thea who was practically bouncing up and down in excitement. Everyone, family member or friend, received the same thing - an enthusiastic hug and a kiss from his wife. He smiled even wider when she reached the next to the last person, Matt. He grabbed her, gave her a comic leer, and dramatically bent her back in his arms only to deliver a tiny peck on her nose.
Everyone, including Adam, laughed at that one and Thea turned red from mirth as Matt set her upright and gave her an elegant, sweeping bow. She curtsied and he backed away, bowing and scraping while murmuring, "Your Majesty!" until he backed into Cassandra and had to quickly turn and grab her to keep her from falling.
Thea looked around then spotted Hop Sing who was trying to hide behind Hoss, but had kept looking around the big man to watch what was going on. The small man's eyes opened wide as she slowly walked up to him and said, "You didn't really think you would get away did you?" She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward to place a quick kiss on each cheek. Then she let him go and bowed slightly at the waist.
Hop Sing turned red and sped off toward the kitchen. Thea smiled when she heard him laughing hysterically as soon as he disappeared through the door.
She quickly turned around when she heard Adam say, "Happy Birthday, Theadora," from behind her; he was still standing on the landing. Adam watched her hurry around to the stairs, run up the first flight, and braced himself as she jumped into his arms. He staggered back into the railing then held her tightly as he looked down into her shining face. After giving her a quick kiss he whispered the word, "Later," in her ear and put her down, smiling at the way she had shivered when his warm breath had caressed her neck. Then the two of them came down the stairs arm in arm, to join the party.
Groups of people formed and re-formed as happy chatter filled the room. Refreshments were available in the dining room where the table had been turned sideways to be used as a buffet. Thea did not stay in one spot, she went from group to group joining in the conversation for a while, then moving on as was her habit at any gathering.
She was sitting on the sofa with Hoss and the twins when she saw Adam move to stand in front of the fireplace. He didn't make a sound, but suddenly all conversation stopped and everyone turned in his direction.
Hoss leaned down and whispered to Thea, "How does he do that?" Thea shook her head and whispered back, "I have no idea."
"Please come up here, Thea, we have another surprise for you," Adam said with a smile. His wife hurried up to him and he turned her around then put his hands over her eyes - she laughed. He nodded toward Joe who quickly sped up the stairs. In a moment he returned with Dante and Dora then led them to stand in front of Thea.
"Thea I would like you to meet your first cousins," Adam said as he took his hands away and she opened her eyes. The three of them stared at each other in shocked silence for a moment then Dora spoke.
"Madre di Dio, she looks exactly like our mothers!" Then the tall woman burst into tears and stepped forward to throw her arms around Thea, almost knocking her down. Always willing to do whatever it would take to make her guests feel comfortable, Thea obligingly burst into tears too.
Adam and Dante looked at each other and shook their heads and smiled, then Dante put his hands on Dora's shoulders and drew her back while Adam did the same with Thea.
"Thea," her husband said, "this is Dorathea Sophia Cabrisi and Dante Antonio Cabrisi. They are your mother's sister's children."
Thea looked up at the tall beautiful woman with smiling dark gray eyes, softly waving chestnut hair, and familiar features. Then she turned her eyes to Dante who was a male replica of his sister.
"You two are twins?" she asked.
"Sì, gemelli," Dante answered her with a huge smile while his sister vigorously nodded.
"Dear God, he has given me another family," Thea breathed as she came forward. She put her arms around both of them as she said, "Un'altra famiglia!"
The three of them stood there for a few moments in a tight circle as the rest of the people in the room looked on with smiling faces, touched by the scene going on in front of them.
Then Thea took a deep breath and stepped back. "Well, I certainly hope that's the last shock for this evening. I'm not sure I'd survive another one!" she said putting one hand over her heart and raising trembling fingers to wipe the last of her happy tears away.
Her friends and family laughed and the happy chatter increased as the party continued. Thea took her cousins by the hand and drew them forward to sit on the raised stone hearth with her. She opened her mouth to say something, but just sat there for a moment looking at them with disbelief. Then she shook her head as her new family members smiled at her.
"Did I hear you say I look exactly like our mothers?" she said to Dora.
"Si," Dora answered. "Here, I show you." The woman was wearing a gold and enamel locket around her neck and she opened it to show Thea two miniature portraits of what looked like the same woman.
She pointed to the one on the left and said, "This is our mother, Sophia." Then she pointed to the one on the right.
"This is your mother Sarah."
Thea stared at her mother's smiling face hungrily, having never even known what she looked like. Doc would never discuss it, claiming he couldn't remember. "Here all this time I wondered what my mother looked like and I've been seeing her face in the mirror every day."
Dora looked at her kindly and reached to take her hand. "I have much to tell you about them and you will come to know your mother then." Thea held on to her cousin's hand tightly as she fought to keep from weeping as she remembered her father's cruelty and cowardice.
"Did you know who my father was?" she asked.
"Si," Dante said with a frown. "He did a terrible thing to you and your mother; our father always did hate him." Then he looked at Thea apologetically. "Please excuse me, I should not speak of your father this way to you."
Thea laughed, "Don't worry about that, there's nothing you can say that I haven't already thought," she said and was glad when he smiled in relief.
"Where did you learn to speak Italian?" Dante asked.
"I lived in Italy for four years with Doc when I was little. I seemed to pick it up quickly and have never forgotten," she answered, and then turned her attention back to Dora when the other woman spoke.
Dora had turned the locket around and was looking at the two women. "We have many twins in our family, but most are not exactly alike as our mothers were."
"Were they very close?"
"Oh yes, that is why we have our names." Dora's brow furrowed, "My English is not very good yet, sometimes it is hard to say what I mean. They made a promise to each other to name the first girls Theadora and Dorathea. It was, as you say, a joke?"
Thea smiled, completely fascinated by her new family member. "Yes, 'joke' is the right word," she laughed. "That actually sounds like something I would do."
Dora gave her a brilliant smile, "Yes, you are very much like them. Adam told us what you look like, but it is different when you see. I mean to look at you."
Dante nodded in agreement and Thea started to answer but she was distracted when Hoss came toward them rolling an upright piano.
Adam appeared in front of her and held his hand out to help her up. "Sorry to interrupt, but you'll have plenty of time to get to know your cousins later."
He pulled Thea to her feet and led her to an empty chair to the right of the open space. When she was seated he motioned toward the twins who came running. Alexander went to stand in front of Dante while Annalise took her father's hand and tugged him toward the piano.
Thea looked on, mystified as Adam sat down on the piano bench then lifted Annalise into his lap. Then her eyes opened wide when Dora came to stand next to the piano with a violin in her hand. Adam and Annalise began to play the piano, the little girl's fingers pressing the keys confidently as her father worked the pedals for her. Dora raised her bow and joined them.
Thea was still looking at her daughter in shock when Dante opened his mouth and the purest, richest voice she had ever heard began to sing her favorite song...
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave ave Dominus
Dominus tecum
The man stood there with his hands on Alexander's shoulders and when he had sung the first stanzas, Alexander began to sing in a clear, sweet soprano.
Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave ave Dominus
Dominus tecum
Then the two sang the rest of the song together, Dante keeping the power of his voice in check so Alexander could be heard.
Benedicta tu in Mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tui Jesus
Ave Maria
When they finished and the last exquisite notes faded away, the rest of the people in the room remained silent, spellbound by the beauty they had just experienced. Then as though on cue they burst into loud applause, startling the performers.
Alexander turned bright red and ran to bury his face in his mother's lap. Annalise, however, hopped down from her father's lap and came to take Dora's hand as they moved to stand next to Dante. He took the little girl's other hand and the three of them bowed together. Their wildly appreciative audience stood then and continued to applaud as Alexander overcame his embarrassment and rushed up to take Dora's other hand. Everyone laughed and the performers bowed one more time for Alexander's sake.
Their audience was still amused by Alexander and awed by the incredible voice they had just heard as the children ran to their mother. She looked at their smiling faces, still shocked. Pulling them up into her lap, she looked up when Adam came to stand in front of them.
"How? How did you do this?"
Adam grinned at her stunned expression, extremely satisfied that she had been thoroughly surprised.
"Dante and Dora have been here for almost a month. They've been staying at the hotel and we practiced every chance we had. It was pretty difficult to keep you in the dark about all of this, but everyone was involved so we had plenty of help. Even Joe managed to keep his mouth shut."
She shook her head at her husband's deviousness and turned back to her children. "Ooh! I'm so proud of you!" she said as she tightened her arms around them and hugged them as hard as she could. The two of them slipped their little arms around her and hugged her back as she looked up at Adam again.
"Come on you two," Adam said, "now it's my turn."
The children giggled as they slipped from her lap and ran off. He held his hand out to her and she stood to wrap her arms around his waist and squeeze him as tightly as she could. Adam laughed resting his cheek on the top of her head and she smiled, loving the way the deep rumble sounded with her ear against his chest.
He lifted his head then and spotted Joe trying to maneuver Dora toward the front door. "I think you better get over there and rescue your cousin," he said into Thea's ear. She quickly raised her head from his chest to look, then immediately started toward them. As she hurried over she could swear she saw a grimace of distaste pass quickly over Dora's face when Joe touched her arm.
"Please excuse me for interrupting Joe, but I really need to speak with my cousin. You understand, don't you?" She said with wide innocent eyes when she reached them.
"Of course," Joe said trying to hide his irritation.
"Thank you," Thea said softly and took her cousin's arm to lead her to two chairs in a corner where they would have at least a little privacy.
Joe watched them go and his eyes narrowed; he sensed that Thea did not approve of his interest in Dora and that rankled. He turned his own devious mind then to figuring out how to get his sister-in-law out of the way so he could have her cousin's full attention again.
"I have to ask this, does Dante sing professionally? I have never heard a more beautiful voice in my life." Thea said to Dora as they settled into the two chairs.
"Oh yes, he is very well known throughout Europe. That is another reason why we have come here, to be close to San Francisco. Dante will be rehearsing with a company there for another month, then performing for a month, then rehearsing for a tour with the company for two more months. Then we will both go."
"Oh," Thea said with a solemn face, unhappy that she would be loosing her newfound family in just a few months. But then she dragged her thoughts away from that direction and continued getting to know her cousin. "Well, what do you think of your new family and our friends?"
"I do not think I have the English words to tell you, but I will try. You're father-in-law is charming and I could plainly see that he loves you. So do all of your friends. You have been blessed with a wonderful husband and beautiful children. I am proud to belong now to such people," she said then blushed and looked down shyly.
"What about Adam's brothers?" the other woman prompted her.
"The little one, the one they call Joe is very handsome," Dora said, not looking up.
Thea laughed, "I take it you don't like him very much."
Dora looked up with an anxious expression. "Please to forgive me, I do not mean to insult your family."
Her cousin was shaking with suppressed laughter. "You didn't insult anyone. It's true; Joe can be very arrogant and overbearing. He sometimes acts as though he is God's gift to women!"
"Yes," the other woman said, "I do not like 'pretty' men. They do not care for anyone but themselves."
"I agree, but Joe isn't quite that bad, although I do have to admit sometimes he's close!"
The two women's eyes met and they said what women have been saying for centuries, "Men!" Then they laughed together in perfect understanding.
When Thea could speak again she said, "What about Hoss?"
Dora's face lit up. "Ah, now THAT one is a man!"
"You think so?"
"Yes, you but have to watch him. He is sweet and gentle with your children and tolerates Joseph's foolishness. But he is also a man of honor. I must tell you that when I met him I slapped him because he was trying to hit Adam."
"Dear Lord, what happened?"
"He was defending you. He thought that Adam and I were..." she shook her head in frustration, "I do not know the English words for it."
"Having an affair?" Thea offered.
"Yes! That is what he thought," she laughed. "Oh, he was very angry with your husband. He chased him all around the hall at the hotel until I opened the door."
Thea was giggling helplessly imagining what that must have looked like when she glanced up and saw Joe standing over them.
"Happy Birthday, Thea," he said smiling down at both of them. "You look absolutely beautiful tonight and I don't think anyone would ever believe that you're older than Adam."
Thea gasped in outrage, "I am not older than Adam, we were born in the same year!" she blurted out then clapped her hand over her mouth.
Joe started laughing as Adam came to join the group and the rest of the room fell silent.
"I can't believe you fell for that," he said to his wife while holding back a chuckle.
Thea's face turned red with anger and she stood, pinning Joe with a furious glare. "You BRAT!" she spat out and Joe took a step back.
"I yanked your spleen out and saved your life and this is how you repay me?" she said. "Come here Joe, I want to see if you need anything else removed."
Joe was still laughing as he backed away. "No, I don't think so. I have a feeling you'd be taking out something I really need."
"You've got that right," she said as she moved toward him. He took one more look at her angry eyes and bolted for the front door; she was right behind him.
Joe probably would have gotten away, but he hit a patch of ice and slid across the yard. He was trying to get to his feet again when Thea pounced on him.
"Ha! I've got you now, you ungrateful little weasel!" she yelled and shoved a handful of snow into his face. Joe started to laugh and tried to throw Thea off, but couldn't as people shouted encouragement to her from the doorway. The room quickly emptied as almost everyone ran outside to join in the snow fight, leaving behind only Hoss and Dora.
Hoss was behind his father and older brother who were standing in the doorway laughing at the adult's childlike behavior.
When the big man felt a hand on his arm he turned to see Dora standing beside him. When their eyes met she pointed up at the mistletoe directly over his head. She smiled and tipped her cheek up for his kiss. Hoss chuckled and bent his head down, but Dora turned her head at the last moment so his lips landed directly on hers. He pulled back in surprise then started laughing as she gave him a cheeky grin. But a moment later her grin faded and her gaze darkened as she looked intently into his eyes. Hoss stopped laughing, slowly gathered her into his arms, bent his head, and took her mouth in a deep insistent kiss that left her breathless, flushed, and weak in the knees.
Adam glanced back then did a double take when he saw what was going on behind him, so he slowly backed up and quietly pulled the front door shut while his father was still distracted. The sight of so many people slipping and sliding around in the snow, falling on each other and knocking each other down had Ben bent over laughing as hard as he could.
The quiet sound of the door shutting startled the couple. Hoss pulled back to look down into her solemn face for a moment. She looked back at him with wide eyes and shocked them both by demanding, "Do that again!"
He turned red with embarrassment as they both burst out laughing. She put her head against his chest and they stood there with their arms around each other until they heard people approaching. They sprang guiltily apart and Dora sped off while Hoss stayed where was, trying to look innocent.
The door opened - Adam poked his head in. Seeing only his brother standing there he pushed the door open the whole way and came in with his arm around Thea, who was completely covered in snow. He gave Hoss an appraising look as he passed, led his wife toward the fireplace, and seated her in front of it on the raised stone hearth.
Other people were streaming past Hoss so he stepped back, still shocked by his own behavior. It took a moment for Joe's voice to register and he looked blankly down at his younger brother who was dripping snow while grinning up at him. "You should have come on out Hoss, we had a lot of fun!" He ran his hands through his hair, dislodging clumps of snow that plopped on the floor. "Boy, that Thea sure is strong for such a little woman!"
"Uh yeah," his older brother said and Joe looked at him puzzled.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothin'!" the big man said, looking over Joe's head to apprehensively watch his older brother approach.
"Go dry off, Joe. I want to talk to him for a minute," Adam said giving Hoss a narrow look.
"Good luck, but I don't think you'll be getting much out of him," Joe said as he shook his head and started across the room toward the fireplace where Dora was trying to dry Thea's hair with a towel.
Adam watched him go, then turned back to look at Hoss with raised eyebrows and hooded eyes as he said, "Well?"
Hoss was flustered, "Well what?"
"That was no peck on the lips, brother, and I want to know what's going on."
"Nothin!" Hoss said again, desperately wishing he was some place else. Or at least that Adam hadn't looked back at them.
"Mmm hmm...so you say, but that didn't look like 'nothing' to me. In fact that definitely looked like 'something'."
Hoss was distracted then when Dora turned away from Thea and gave him a brilliant smile from across the room.
Adam turned his head to look, rolled his eyes and snorted with laughter. "Oh Lord, has she got it bad for you!"
"You really think so? A sophisticated woman like that?"
"Yep." Adam said, clapping Hoss on the shoulder. "In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret, something even Thea doesn't know. I also speak Italian."
For some reason that got Hoss's attention. "You do?"
"Yes, but mine isn't nearly as elegant as hers. Do you remember Dora saying something in Italian as you were leaving the hotel the first time you met?"
Hoss nodded.
"Do you want to know what she was saying?"
Hoss nodded again, this time eagerly.
"She said, and I quote, 'The soul of an angel' unquote."
"Really? You're not just pullin' my leg now are you?"
"No Hoss, I wouldn't do that. But you have to understand too that these people are my responsibility. I brought them here and they are Thea's family, therefore they are now my family. So, I think it's pretty clear that Dora is serious about you and I have to ask you to stay away from her if the feeling is not mutual. I don't want anything causing division. Thea just would not be able to take it."
Hoss stayed silent for a moment, thinking Adam's words over then came to a decision, as he turned red with embarrassment again. "The feeling IS mutual," he said low. His voice was so low that Adam leaned toward him and said, "What was that?"
"I said the feeling is mutual," Hoss answered him, louder this time then looked quickly around to see if anyone else had heard him.
Adam started laughing, keeping his back to the rest of the room so no one would see. When he had himself under control again Hoss was starting to look a little irritated so he said, "I'm sorry this embarrassed you, but you do understand that I had to know, don't you? Thea is my main concern."
Hoss's frown cleared as he nodded his understanding.
"Come on," Adam said, took his brother by the arm and pulled him across the room to where Joe was sitting on the hearth in between Thea and her cousin. After Hoss had seated himself next to Dora, Adam looked at his youngest brother saying, "Hey, go find your own girl."
Joe laughed and stood, but then was startled; he hadn't noticed his older brother sitting down next to Dora on her other side and his eyes narrowed when he saw Hoss put his arm around her shoulders.
He turned away abruptly, went to the sofa to sit next to Cassandra, and proceeded to bestow his most charming smiles on her while shooting dark looks at Hoss occasionally.
Adam rolled his eyes in exasperation and leaned down to whisper in Thea's ear, "What the hell is the matter with Joe?"
"I think he has taken quite a shine to Dora," she whispered back, "what the hell is going on with her and Hoss?"
Her husband was trying to control his mirth and was unable to answer her for a few moments.
"They've both taken much, much more than just a shine to each other," he finally said.
"Dear Lord, I hope this doesn't get nasty."
Adam glanced at Joe who just happened to be shooting one of his dark looks at Hoss. He sighed, "I don't think there's much hope of that. God why can't anything ever be simple?"
Thea was shaking with inaudible laughter and he just shook his head as he tightened his arms around her. When she was over her laughing fit, she sighed deeply and rested her head on his shoulder, suddenly very tired.
He started thinking about what he saw as an inevitable conflict between his two brothers and was only dimly aware of the conversations going on all around him. But he was jolted back from his musings when he realized his father and Dante were standing in front of him.
He looked up and noted that both men wore the exact same serious expression. "What's wrong?"
The two men glanced at each other and Ben said, "We need to talk to you in private." Dora's brother nodded in agreement.
When Adam looked down he saw Thea had fallen asleep, then he also noticed that Dora and Hoss were gone. He glanced around the room and didn't see them anywhere, which gave him his first indication as to what the trouble was.
"Theadora," he said softly into this wife's ear and her eyes immediately opened. She blinked at him for a moment, and then came fully awake. He stood and helped her up, then led her to a chair where the twins were curled up sound asleep. She smiled and bent to gently shake them awake as Adam leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I'm being summoned to meet with the other family heads so don't expect me for a while."
She quickly turned her head to look at him and spotted Ben and Dante still standing by the fireplace waiting for her husband. She whispered back, "Scream if you need help."
Laughing, he kissed her on the cheek and turned back to the two men waiting for him. "Lead on, gentlemen," he said and shot Thea a quelling look as he heard her giggle.
Ben headed toward the front door with Dante right behind him while Adam followed. When they were on the porch with the door shut firmly behind them Adam said, "So what's wrong?"
"My sister is gone and so is your brother," Dante said, scowling. "And we cannot find them anywhere in the house."
"I have assured Dante that Hoss is trustworthy and his sister, if she is with him, is perfectly safe," Ben said. "But I can understand that he doesn't know me as well as he knows you and might be more inclined to believe that if it comes from you."
Adam fought to keep his expression serious. "He's right Dante. Hoss would never do anything to harm Dora in any way."
The young man seemed to relax then and sighed. "I am sorry if I seem overprotective of my sister, but I am sure you can understand that her beauty attracts many men to her. I have always had to be very careful."
"I understand," Adam said as he nodded.
Dante turned to Ben then. "Please accept my apology that it seemed like I was not taking you at your word, Mr. Cartwright."
Ben put his hand out and the younger man clasped it with a relieved expression. "Apology accepted and this is forgotten," he said. He put a hand on the younger man's shoulder and began to lead him back inside. But he glanced back at Adam and nodded toward the barn. His eldest son grinned and nodded back - he had been thinking the same thing.
As soon as the door was shut behind the two men Adam hurried to the barn and slipped in without a sound. He stood there hoping he would hear voices and frowned when he didn't. But he did hear what sounded like a sigh, and he quickly but silently moved in the direction the sound had come from.
He heard another sigh coming from the stall directly to his right and he stepped through the stall door.
The two people standing by the far wall didn't hear him or see him. Hoss had his arms wrapped tightly around Dora's waist and her arms were around his neck with her fingers buried in his hair. They were both so deeply involved in the kiss he didn't think they would notice if the building fell down around them. Then he smiled as he resisted an insane urge to start applauding.
Instead he quietly said, "Are you two going to come up for air soon?" startling Dora badly. She jumped and tried to pull away from Hoss, but he wouldn't let go. He just turned his head to calmly look at his older brother.
Adam bit back another smile. "Do you think you two can get yourselves back to the house before Dante figures this out and comes running with a very big, very sharp knife?" he asked them in a conversational tone.
Hoss laughed, but still did not let go of Dora and she hid her face in his chest. As the silence lengthened Adam abruptly understood.
"Good God, you already asked her to marry you?"
Hoss nodded his head as Dora tried to press her red face further into his chest.
Adam held back a chuckle as he choked out, "I'm assuming you said 'yes'"
Dora peeked at him and gave him a quick nod before turning her face away.
Shaking his head, Adam walked up to the couple and put his arms around both of them then couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. Hoss joined him and this time Dora laughed too.
Eventually Adam stepped back and smiled a pleased smile first at his brother, then at Dora. Both of them seemed to be surprised. "You approve?" Hoss said in a disbelieving tone.
"Very much so, but I do have to point out to you that now would not be the best of times to make an announcement. If you do, Dante will automatically think the worst and I can guarantee he WILL come after you with a very big, very sharp knife then."
The couple looked at each other and Hoss said, "He's right." Dora quickly agreed by saying, "How long do you think we should wait," as she smiled shyly at her future brother-in-law.
"If you want my advice I would wait until after Dante goes on tour. You know how protective he is of you and things will go so much more smoothly if you do."
Dora thought about this for a few moments and turned back to Hoss. "He's right," she said, echoing his own words.
"You're sure?" he said, looking down into her smiling face.
"Yes I am sure, but you may not be willing to wait for four months."
"Four months!" Hoss said, and Adam grinned at the dismay he heard in his brother's voice.
She nodded and looked up at him anxiously. Hoss looked down at her, sighed and shrugged saying, "If waiting that long'll make this easier for you, then that's what we'll do."
Dora gave him a brilliant smile and Adam hurried to interrupt and step on what he knew would be another tender moment.
"Break it up you two, we need to talk. It seems clear to me that keeping this delightful news a secret will be almost impossible without the cooperation of two key people, namely Thea and Pa. If you agree I think they should be told as soon as possible." They both immediately nodded.
"Now, do you realize how late it is? If we don't get moving soon someone will get the idea to come out here to look for her, and I don't think you want a search party showing up."
The couple looked at him expectantly as Adam thought for a moment then looked at Dora.
"Do you think you can manage to sneak around the house and get in the back way without anyone seeing you?"
"Oh yes, I am very good at such things. It was the only way I could get away from Dante to have some time to myself. He knows I will not be found if I do not wish to be found."
"Perfect, " Adam said and gave her an approving look. "You do that and find an empty room to hide in. We will wait for about fifteen minutes and come in the front door together. Hoss will tell them we were out here giving the ponies a last brushing before morning. With any luck this should work."
Dora laughed and pulled Hoss's head down for a quick kiss then he reluctantly let her go. She hurried out of the stall and they listened, but didn't hear her leave the barn.
"Well, we might as well check on the ponies since we have some time to kill," Adam said and led the way out into the aisle. The two men went to the back of the barn then into a large stall; they were surprised to see the small horses were still awake.
The gray one trotted up to Adam and banged his head sideways into the man's abdomen then began to snuffle at his shirt. He chuckled and began smoothing his hand down the pony's neck under his black mane.
The gold pony with a red-gold mane and tail looked at Hoss and patiently waited for him to come to her. When he did, she nudged his hands with her warm, velvet nose.
"She wants you to scratch her behind the ears," Adam said.
When Hoss did, the little horse closed her eyes, snorted delicately and stood perfectly still, enjoying the attention.
"Looks like you've made more than one female conquest tonight," his older brother teased and was glad to see that Hoss was no longer embarrassed. He just continued to gently scratch behind the pony's small ears as they discussed the reactions they expected from the twins when the children saw them in the morning. Then it was time to go.
They both gasped when they walked out of the barn and stepped into a wind that had become much colder. They hurried to the house. Adam let Hoss open the door and walk in first, correctly assuming that Dante would still be up and waiting for his sister. He also knew Pa would be with him, his innate good manners dictating that he could not go to bed before his last guest did so.
Adam turned to close the door against the increasing strength of the wind and he heard Dante hurrying up to Hoss.
"Where is my sister?" he said in a loud voice and leaned to the side as though expecting her to be hiding behind the big man. Hoss had just opened his mouth to answer when Dora appeared at the top of the stairs in her nightgown and robe. She yawned and rubbed her eyes before saying, "What is going on down there?"
Her brother whipped around and looked up at her with a relieved expression, "Where have you been?"
"Why?" Dora responded, coming down the stairs to the landing where she leaned on the railing.
Dante rushed to stand directly in front of her, "Why! Why do you do this to me?"
She looked down at him with a puzzled expression, "Do what to you? You are not making any sense Dante."
The young man threw his arms up and turned slightly away from her, "Dear God help me! I will be completely insane by the time you find a husband to take you off my hands."
Dora jerked upright, "Find a husband!" She stared as though he had already lost his mind.
Dante turned back and shook a finger at her, "Yes! Find a husband!"
She leaned over the railing and spoke to him in a tightly controlled voice, "How am I to find a husband when you are always so close you are suffocating me!"
Her brother was honestly outraged, "Suffocating you! How is protecting you suffocating you?"
Dora sighed in exasperation and said, "I give up. No matter what I say to you I just cannot get through. You just will not understand."
He continued to glare at her, his lips pressed together in a tight angry line.
She shook her head at him saying, "Go to bed. I am weary of trying with you."
Dante's mouth opened, but he seemingly just could not come up with anything sufficiently scathing to say, so he stalked up the stairs, sweeping past her without another word.
"Very nicely done," Adam said low into Hoss's ear. "She thinks fast."
When her brother was out of sight, Dora quickly came down the last stairs and went to stand next to Hoss and took his arm. Adam put a hand on each back and gave them a push toward Ben. Dora hesitated and Adam said, "Don't worry, he doesn't bite. Well, at least not anymore."
She quickly shot an apprehensive look at Adam over her shoulder and when she saw his teasing grin she relaxed and smiled. Hoss tugged her forward and they walked up to Ben while Adam followed.
Ben looked up at the couple and stood saying, "Well that was an interesting performance the three of you put on tonight," he said as his black eyes pinned them with a reproving look. "Adam," he continued, "would you mind not lurking behind Hoss like that?"
Adam promptly stepped up beside Hoss and gave his father a wide, unrepentant smile.
"Now, would one of you please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Dora blushed and looked down while Hoss opened his mouth, but realized he just didn't know what to say.
Adam sighed in exasperation and poked Hoss with an elbow saying, "Just tell him!"
"Oh yeah," Hoss answered, then looked at his father. "Pa, Dora and I are gettin' married," he said in a firm voice.
Ben was clearly startled, but seemed to be taking the news much better than either son expected. He looked at each person standing in front of him then sighed.
Dora had her head down as she looked at him through her upper lashes and he couldn't help but smile, comparing her shyness to Thea's boldness. So he put his head down and to the side so he could see her expression, which made her laugh and tip her beautiful face up to him. He looked into her warm gray eyes and noted her charmingly impish grin. Laughing, he put his arms around her and said, "Welcome to the family, Dora, for the second time today."
CHRISTMAS EVE
Chapter 29
The snow was perfect for sledding, tightly packed and firm, but not too deep for the horses. Adam was smiling, happy, and relaxed. He had his entire family packed into the sleigh, babies and all, and he listened to his children laughing and having a good time behind him. Thea snuggled up closer and he looked down at her, imagining how she was going to react to her surprise birthday party. Everyone was in on it from Ben down to the twins and the secret had amazingly been kept.
The sun was setting when they arrived and a few cold, brilliant stars were starting to shine in the dark blue sky. The front door opened as soon as they pulled into the yard and Joe was the first one out. He ran up to the sleigh and plucked Annalise out of the nest of blankets she had been wrapped in. He swung her around and she grinned up into her uncle's face, her deep green eyes shining with delight.
Hoss had come up to them and he said, "Hey, give me a turn!" Joe reluctantly handed the girl over to his brother then turned back to the sleigh to dig through the blankets looking for another child. He pushed a fur robe aside and found Benjamin. His serious little face and deep dark eyes looked up at Joe and surprisingly he smiled. His uncle gasped - he had never seen Benjamin smile before, and when he did the baby looked exactly like his grandfather.
"Hey Pa!" Joe called to his father who had just found Matthew.
"What?"
"Benny looks exactly like you now!"
His father came around the sleigh after shifting Matthew to his shoulder. He looked down at the baby Joe was now holding as he absently rubbed Matthew's back. "You're right, I never noticed that before," he said, obviously pleased.
"You couldn't have," Thea said as Adam lifted her out of the sleigh and went to find Thomas. "He didn't until a few days ago," she said, then bent down to pick Alexander up who had climbed out the back of the sleigh.
"Let's get these children in out of the cold," Adam said as he came up to them, holding Thomas close to protect him from the wind. The five adults moved toward the front door and everyone sighed with pleasure as they came into the warm house.
The great room had been decorated for the holidays and a huge tree stood in a corner near the fireplace. Green boughs were everywhere and the furniture had been rearranged, leaving a large open space in front of the hearth.
Adam saw Thea looking around and said, "We better get the babies upstairs and to bed before they completely wake up."
Thea nodded, her thoughts immediately turning to her children. He smiled, pleased that his attempt to distract her had worked.
Thea put Alexander down and reached to take Matthew from Ben as Adam took Benjamin from Joe. They quickly took the babies upstairs.
As soon as the two were out of sight the three men were out the door. Ben hurried into the barn while Joe and Hoss went to unhitch the horses from the sleigh.
When Ben came back out of the barn a stream of people followed him and hurried toward the house. Wes, Dulcy, Marie, the three deputies, Roy, Hal, Charlie, Matt and Cassandra hurried through the front door and went to stand in front of the tree where the twins were waiting. Hoss and Joe quickly came in a few moments later and each collected a twin as they joined the group.
Everyone was smiling in anticipation and when anyone made a sound, the others hushed them. Surprisingly, even the twins were quiet.
Ben had gone to the kitchen to get Hop Sing and the Chinese man hurried after him toward the others. Then everyone looked up when they heard Adam and Thea coming. She had her head turned to him as she listened to what he was saying and didn't look away from him until the two were at the head of the stairs. Adam reached to take her arm before she went down the first step and nodded his head toward the assembled friends and family below them.
Thea turned to look and when she did they all called out, "Happy Birthday!" to her as loud as they could. She was so startled she instinctively jumped back, stepping and stumbling all over Adam's feet as she put a hand to her chest and gasped in shock.
"Ow! Walk on your own feet," her husband said then chuckled as he put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
Everyone was obviously tickled with her dramatic reaction as they laughed, whistled, and applauded.
Thea quickly recovered, flew down the stairs, and threw herself at the first person she reached, Ben, who had taken that position on purpose. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the floor to kiss her on the forehead before setting her down. She surprised him by reaching up to pull his head down to give him a resounding smack on the lips. He laughed at her and let go so she could greet her friends.
Adam slowly came down the second flight of stairs then stopped on the first landing to lean on the railing. He smiled at the way people were pressing forward, trying to get at Thea who was practically bouncing up and down in excitement. Everyone, family member or friend, received the same thing - an enthusiastic hug and a kiss from his wife. He smiled even wider when she reached the next to the last person, Matt. He grabbed her, gave her a comic leer, and dramatically bent her back in his arms only to deliver a tiny peck on her nose.
Everyone, including Adam, laughed at that one and Thea turned red from mirth as Matt set her upright and gave her an elegant, sweeping bow. She curtsied and he backed away, bowing and scraping while murmuring, "Your Majesty!" until he backed into Cassandra and had to quickly turn and grab her to keep her from falling.
Thea looked around then spotted Hop Sing who was trying to hide behind Hoss, but had kept looking around the big man to watch what was going on. The small man's eyes opened wide as she slowly walked up to him and said, "You didn't really think you would get away did you?" She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward to place a quick kiss on each cheek. Then she let him go and bowed slightly at the waist.
Hop Sing turned red and sped off toward the kitchen. Thea smiled when she heard him laughing hysterically as soon as he disappeared through the door.
She quickly turned around when she heard Adam say, "Happy Birthday, Theadora," from behind her; he was still standing on the landing. Adam watched her hurry around to the stairs, run up the first flight, and braced himself as she jumped into his arms. He staggered back into the railing then held her tightly as he looked down into her shining face. After giving her a quick kiss he whispered the word, "Later," in her ear and put her down, smiling at the way she had shivered when his warm breath had caressed her neck. Then the two of them came down the stairs arm in arm, to join the party.
Groups of people formed and re-formed as happy chatter filled the room. Refreshments were available in the dining room where the table had been turned sideways to be used as a buffet. Thea did not stay in one spot, she went from group to group joining in the conversation for a while, then moving on as was her habit at any gathering.
She was sitting on the sofa with Hoss and the twins when she saw Adam move to stand in front of the fireplace. He didn't make a sound, but suddenly all conversation stopped and everyone turned in his direction.
Hoss leaned down and whispered to Thea, "How does he do that?" Thea shook her head and whispered back, "I have no idea."
"Please come up here, Thea, we have another surprise for you," Adam said with a smile. His wife hurried up to him and he turned her around then put his hands over her eyes - she laughed. He nodded toward Joe who quickly sped up the stairs. In a moment he returned with Dante and Dora then led them to stand in front of Thea.
"Thea I would like you to meet your first cousins," Adam said as he took his hands away and she opened her eyes. The three of them stared at each other in shocked silence for a moment then Dora spoke.
"Madre di Dio, she looks exactly like our mothers!" Then the tall woman burst into tears and stepped forward to throw her arms around Thea, almost knocking her down. Always willing to do whatever it would take to make her guests feel comfortable, Thea obligingly burst into tears too.
Adam and Dante looked at each other and shook their heads and smiled, then Dante put his hands on Dora's shoulders and drew her back while Adam did the same with Thea.
"Thea," her husband said, "this is Dorathea Sophia Cabrisi and Dante Antonio Cabrisi. They are your mother's sister's children."
Thea looked up at the tall beautiful woman with smiling dark gray eyes, softly waving chestnut hair, and familiar features. Then she turned her eyes to Dante who was a male replica of his sister.
"You two are twins?" she asked.
"Sì, gemelli," Dante answered her with a huge smile while his sister vigorously nodded.
"Dear God, he has given me another family," Thea breathed as she came forward. She put her arms around both of them as she said, "Un'altra famiglia!"
The three of them stood there for a few moments in a tight circle as the rest of the people in the room looked on with smiling faces, touched by the scene going on in front of them.
Then Thea took a deep breath and stepped back. "Well, I certainly hope that's the last shock for this evening. I'm not sure I'd survive another one!" she said putting one hand over her heart and raising trembling fingers to wipe the last of her happy tears away.
Her friends and family laughed and the happy chatter increased as the party continued. Thea took her cousins by the hand and drew them forward to sit on the raised stone hearth with her. She opened her mouth to say something, but just sat there for a moment looking at them with disbelief. Then she shook her head as her new family members smiled at her.
"Did I hear you say I look exactly like our mothers?" she said to Dora.
"Si," Dora answered. "Here, I show you." The woman was wearing a gold and enamel locket around her neck and she opened it to show Thea two miniature portraits of what looked like the same woman.
She pointed to the one on the left and said, "This is our mother, Sophia." Then she pointed to the one on the right.
"This is your mother Sarah."
Thea stared at her mother's smiling face hungrily, having never even known what she looked like. Doc would never discuss it, claiming he couldn't remember. "Here all this time I wondered what my mother looked like and I've been seeing her face in the mirror every day."
Dora looked at her kindly and reached to take her hand. "I have much to tell you about them and you will come to know your mother then." Thea held on to her cousin's hand tightly as she fought to keep from weeping as she remembered her father's cruelty and cowardice.
"Did you know who my father was?" she asked.
"Si," Dante said with a frown. "He did a terrible thing to you and your mother; our father always did hate him." Then he looked at Thea apologetically. "Please excuse me, I should not speak of your father this way to you."
Thea laughed, "Don't worry about that, there's nothing you can say that I haven't already thought," she said and was glad when he smiled in relief.
"Where did you learn to speak Italian?" Dante asked.
"I lived in Italy for four years with Doc when I was little. I seemed to pick it up quickly and have never forgotten," she answered, and then turned her attention back to Dora when the other woman spoke.
Dora had turned the locket around and was looking at the two women. "We have many twins in our family, but most are not exactly alike as our mothers were."
"Were they very close?"
"Oh yes, that is why we have our names." Dora's brow furrowed, "My English is not very good yet, sometimes it is hard to say what I mean. They made a promise to each other to name the first girls Theadora and Dorathea. It was, as you say, a joke?"
Thea smiled, completely fascinated by her new family member. "Yes, 'joke' is the right word," she laughed. "That actually sounds like something I would do."
Dora gave her a brilliant smile, "Yes, you are very much like them. Adam told us what you look like, but it is different when you see. I mean to look at you."
Dante nodded in agreement and Thea started to answer but she was distracted when Hoss came toward them rolling an upright piano.
Adam appeared in front of her and held his hand out to help her up. "Sorry to interrupt, but you'll have plenty of time to get to know your cousins later."
He pulled Thea to her feet and led her to an empty chair to the right of the open space. When she was seated he motioned toward the twins who came running. Alexander went to stand in front of Dante while Annalise took her father's hand and tugged him toward the piano.
Thea looked on, mystified as Adam sat down on the piano bench then lifted Annalise into his lap. Then her eyes opened wide when Dora came to stand next to the piano with a violin in her hand. Adam and Annalise began to play the piano, the little girl's fingers pressing the keys confidently as her father worked the pedals for her. Dora raised her bow and joined them.
Thea was still looking at her daughter in shock when Dante opened his mouth and the purest, richest voice she had ever heard began to sing her favorite song...
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave ave Dominus
Dominus tecum
The man stood there with his hands on Alexander's shoulders and when he had sung the first stanzas, Alexander began to sing in a clear, sweet soprano.
Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave ave Dominus
Dominus tecum
Then the two sang the rest of the song together, Dante keeping the power of his voice in check so Alexander could be heard.
Benedicta tu in Mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tui Jesus
Ave Maria
When they finished and the last exquisite notes faded away, the rest of the people in the room remained silent, spellbound by the beauty they had just experienced. Then as though on cue they burst into loud applause, startling the performers.
Alexander turned bright red and ran to bury his face in his mother's lap. Annalise, however, hopped down from her father's lap and came to take Dora's hand as they moved to stand next to Dante. He took the little girl's other hand and the three of them bowed together. Their wildly appreciative audience stood then and continued to applaud as Alexander overcame his embarrassment and rushed up to take Dora's other hand. Everyone laughed and the performers bowed one more time for Alexander's sake.
Their audience was still amused by Alexander and awed by the incredible voice they had just heard as the children ran to their mother. She looked at their smiling faces, still shocked. Pulling them up into her lap, she looked up when Adam came to stand in front of them.
"How? How did you do this?"
Adam grinned at her stunned expression, extremely satisfied that she had been thoroughly surprised.
"Dante and Dora have been here for almost a month. They've been staying at the hotel and we practiced every chance we had. It was pretty difficult to keep you in the dark about all of this, but everyone was involved so we had plenty of help. Even Joe managed to keep his mouth shut."
She shook her head at her husband's deviousness and turned back to her children. "Ooh! I'm so proud of you!" she said as she tightened her arms around them and hugged them as hard as she could. The two of them slipped their little arms around her and hugged her back as she looked up at Adam again.
"Come on you two," Adam said, "now it's my turn."
The children giggled as they slipped from her lap and ran off. He held his hand out to her and she stood to wrap her arms around his waist and squeeze him as tightly as she could. Adam laughed resting his cheek on the top of her head and she smiled, loving the way the deep rumble sounded with her ear against his chest.
He lifted his head then and spotted Joe trying to maneuver Dora toward the front door. "I think you better get over there and rescue your cousin," he said into Thea's ear. She quickly raised her head from his chest to look, then immediately started toward them. As she hurried over she could swear she saw a grimace of distaste pass quickly over Dora's face when Joe touched her arm.
"Please excuse me for interrupting Joe, but I really need to speak with my cousin. You understand, don't you?" She said with wide innocent eyes when she reached them.
"Of course," Joe said trying to hide his irritation.
"Thank you," Thea said softly and took her cousin's arm to lead her to two chairs in a corner where they would have at least a little privacy.
Joe watched them go and his eyes narrowed; he sensed that Thea did not approve of his interest in Dora and that rankled. He turned his own devious mind then to figuring out how to get his sister-in-law out of the way so he could have her cousin's full attention again.
"I have to ask this, does Dante sing professionally? I have never heard a more beautiful voice in my life." Thea said to Dora as they settled into the two chairs.
"Oh yes, he is very well known throughout Europe. That is another reason why we have come here, to be close to San Francisco. Dante will be rehearsing with a company there for another month, then performing for a month, then rehearsing for a tour with the company for two more months. Then we will both go."
"Oh," Thea said with a solemn face, unhappy that she would be loosing her newfound family in just a few months. But then she dragged her thoughts away from that direction and continued getting to know her cousin. "Well, what do you think of your new family and our friends?"
"I do not think I have the English words to tell you, but I will try. You're father-in-law is charming and I could plainly see that he loves you. So do all of your friends. You have been blessed with a wonderful husband and beautiful children. I am proud to belong now to such people," she said then blushed and looked down shyly.
"What about Adam's brothers?" the other woman prompted her.
"The little one, the one they call Joe is very handsome," Dora said, not looking up.
Thea laughed, "I take it you don't like him very much."
Dora looked up with an anxious expression. "Please to forgive me, I do not mean to insult your family."
Her cousin was shaking with suppressed laughter. "You didn't insult anyone. It's true; Joe can be very arrogant and overbearing. He sometimes acts as though he is God's gift to women!"
"Yes," the other woman said, "I do not like 'pretty' men. They do not care for anyone but themselves."
"I agree, but Joe isn't quite that bad, although I do have to admit sometimes he's close!"
The two women's eyes met and they said what women have been saying for centuries, "Men!" Then they laughed together in perfect understanding.
When Thea could speak again she said, "What about Hoss?"
Dora's face lit up. "Ah, now THAT one is a man!"
"You think so?"
"Yes, you but have to watch him. He is sweet and gentle with your children and tolerates Joseph's foolishness. But he is also a man of honor. I must tell you that when I met him I slapped him because he was trying to hit Adam."
"Dear Lord, what happened?"
"He was defending you. He thought that Adam and I were..." she shook her head in frustration, "I do not know the English words for it."
"Having an affair?" Thea offered.
"Yes! That is what he thought," she laughed. "Oh, he was very angry with your husband. He chased him all around the hall at the hotel until I opened the door."
Thea was giggling helplessly imagining what that must have looked like when she glanced up and saw Joe standing over them.
"Happy Birthday, Thea," he said smiling down at both of them. "You look absolutely beautiful tonight and I don't think anyone would ever believe that you're older than Adam."
Thea gasped in outrage, "I am not older than Adam, we were born in the same year!" she blurted out then clapped her hand over her mouth.
Joe started laughing as Adam came to join the group and the rest of the room fell silent.
"I can't believe you fell for that," he said to his wife while holding back a chuckle.
Thea's face turned red with anger and she stood, pinning Joe with a furious glare. "You BRAT!" she spat out and Joe took a step back.
"I yanked your spleen out and saved your life and this is how you repay me?" she said. "Come here Joe, I want to see if you need anything else removed."
Joe was still laughing as he backed away. "No, I don't think so. I have a feeling you'd be taking out something I really need."
"You've got that right," she said as she moved toward him. He took one more look at her angry eyes and bolted for the front door; she was right behind him.
Joe probably would have gotten away, but he hit a patch of ice and slid across the yard. He was trying to get to his feet again when Thea pounced on him.
"Ha! I've got you now, you ungrateful little weasel!" she yelled and shoved a handful of snow into his face. Joe started to laugh and tried to throw Thea off, but couldn't as people shouted encouragement to her from the doorway. The room quickly emptied as almost everyone ran outside to join in the snow fight, leaving behind only Hoss and Dora.
Hoss was behind his father and older brother who were standing in the doorway laughing at the adult's childlike behavior.
When the big man felt a hand on his arm he turned to see Dora standing beside him. When their eyes met she pointed up at the mistletoe directly over his head. She smiled and tipped her cheek up for his kiss. Hoss chuckled and bent his head down, but Dora turned her head at the last moment so his lips landed directly on hers. He pulled back in surprise then started laughing as she gave him a cheeky grin. But a moment later her grin faded and her gaze darkened as she looked intently into his eyes. Hoss stopped laughing, slowly gathered her into his arms, bent his head, and took her mouth in a deep insistent kiss that left her breathless, flushed, and weak in the knees.
Adam glanced back then did a double take when he saw what was going on behind him, so he slowly backed up and quietly pulled the front door shut while his father was still distracted. The sight of so many people slipping and sliding around in the snow, falling on each other and knocking each other down had Ben bent over laughing as hard as he could.
The quiet sound of the door shutting startled the couple. Hoss pulled back to look down into her solemn face for a moment. She looked back at him with wide eyes and shocked them both by demanding, "Do that again!"
He turned red with embarrassment as they both burst out laughing. She put her head against his chest and they stood there with their arms around each other until they heard people approaching. They sprang guiltily apart and Dora sped off while Hoss stayed where was, trying to look innocent.
The door opened - Adam poked his head in. Seeing only his brother standing there he pushed the door open the whole way and came in with his arm around Thea, who was completely covered in snow. He gave Hoss an appraising look as he passed, led his wife toward the fireplace, and seated her in front of it on the raised stone hearth.
Other people were streaming past Hoss so he stepped back, still shocked by his own behavior. It took a moment for Joe's voice to register and he looked blankly down at his younger brother who was dripping snow while grinning up at him. "You should have come on out Hoss, we had a lot of fun!" He ran his hands through his hair, dislodging clumps of snow that plopped on the floor. "Boy, that Thea sure is strong for such a little woman!"
"Uh yeah," his older brother said and Joe looked at him puzzled.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothin'!" the big man said, looking over Joe's head to apprehensively watch his older brother approach.
"Go dry off, Joe. I want to talk to him for a minute," Adam said giving Hoss a narrow look.
"Good luck, but I don't think you'll be getting much out of him," Joe said as he shook his head and started across the room toward the fireplace where Dora was trying to dry Thea's hair with a towel.
Adam watched him go, then turned back to look at Hoss with raised eyebrows and hooded eyes as he said, "Well?"
Hoss was flustered, "Well what?"
"That was no peck on the lips, brother, and I want to know what's going on."
"Nothin!" Hoss said again, desperately wishing he was some place else. Or at least that Adam hadn't looked back at them.
"Mmm hmm...so you say, but that didn't look like 'nothing' to me. In fact that definitely looked like 'something'."
Hoss was distracted then when Dora turned away from Thea and gave him a brilliant smile from across the room.
Adam turned his head to look, rolled his eyes and snorted with laughter. "Oh Lord, has she got it bad for you!"
"You really think so? A sophisticated woman like that?"
"Yep." Adam said, clapping Hoss on the shoulder. "In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret, something even Thea doesn't know. I also speak Italian."
For some reason that got Hoss's attention. "You do?"
"Yes, but mine isn't nearly as elegant as hers. Do you remember Dora saying something in Italian as you were leaving the hotel the first time you met?"
Hoss nodded.
"Do you want to know what she was saying?"
Hoss nodded again, this time eagerly.
"She said, and I quote, 'The soul of an angel' unquote."
"Really? You're not just pullin' my leg now are you?"
"No Hoss, I wouldn't do that. But you have to understand too that these people are my responsibility. I brought them here and they are Thea's family, therefore they are now my family. So, I think it's pretty clear that Dora is serious about you and I have to ask you to stay away from her if the feeling is not mutual. I don't want anything causing division. Thea just would not be able to take it."
Hoss stayed silent for a moment, thinking Adam's words over then came to a decision, as he turned red with embarrassment again. "The feeling IS mutual," he said low. His voice was so low that Adam leaned toward him and said, "What was that?"
"I said the feeling is mutual," Hoss answered him, louder this time then looked quickly around to see if anyone else had heard him.
Adam started laughing, keeping his back to the rest of the room so no one would see. When he had himself under control again Hoss was starting to look a little irritated so he said, "I'm sorry this embarrassed you, but you do understand that I had to know, don't you? Thea is my main concern."
Hoss's frown cleared as he nodded his understanding.
"Come on," Adam said, took his brother by the arm and pulled him across the room to where Joe was sitting on the hearth in between Thea and her cousin. After Hoss had seated himself next to Dora, Adam looked at his youngest brother saying, "Hey, go find your own girl."
Joe laughed and stood, but then was startled; he hadn't noticed his older brother sitting down next to Dora on her other side and his eyes narrowed when he saw Hoss put his arm around her shoulders.
He turned away abruptly, went to the sofa to sit next to Cassandra, and proceeded to bestow his most charming smiles on her while shooting dark looks at Hoss occasionally.
Adam rolled his eyes in exasperation and leaned down to whisper in Thea's ear, "What the hell is the matter with Joe?"
"I think he has taken quite a shine to Dora," she whispered back, "what the hell is going on with her and Hoss?"
Her husband was trying to control his mirth and was unable to answer her for a few moments.
"They've both taken much, much more than just a shine to each other," he finally said.
"Dear Lord, I hope this doesn't get nasty."
Adam glanced at Joe who just happened to be shooting one of his dark looks at Hoss. He sighed, "I don't think there's much hope of that. God why can't anything ever be simple?"
Thea was shaking with inaudible laughter and he just shook his head as he tightened his arms around her. When she was over her laughing fit, she sighed deeply and rested her head on his shoulder, suddenly very tired.
He started thinking about what he saw as an inevitable conflict between his two brothers and was only dimly aware of the conversations going on all around him. But he was jolted back from his musings when he realized his father and Dante were standing in front of him.
He looked up and noted that both men wore the exact same serious expression. "What's wrong?"
The two men glanced at each other and Ben said, "We need to talk to you in private." Dora's brother nodded in agreement.
When Adam looked down he saw Thea had fallen asleep, then he also noticed that Dora and Hoss were gone. He glanced around the room and didn't see them anywhere, which gave him his first indication as to what the trouble was.
"Theadora," he said softly into this wife's ear and her eyes immediately opened. She blinked at him for a moment, and then came fully awake. He stood and helped her up, then led her to a chair where the twins were curled up sound asleep. She smiled and bent to gently shake them awake as Adam leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I'm being summoned to meet with the other family heads so don't expect me for a while."
She quickly turned her head to look at him and spotted Ben and Dante still standing by the fireplace waiting for her husband. She whispered back, "Scream if you need help."
Laughing, he kissed her on the cheek and turned back to the two men waiting for him. "Lead on, gentlemen," he said and shot Thea a quelling look as he heard her giggle.
Ben headed toward the front door with Dante right behind him while Adam followed. When they were on the porch with the door shut firmly behind them Adam said, "So what's wrong?"
"My sister is gone and so is your brother," Dante said, scowling. "And we cannot find them anywhere in the house."
"I have assured Dante that Hoss is trustworthy and his sister, if she is with him, is perfectly safe," Ben said. "But I can understand that he doesn't know me as well as he knows you and might be more inclined to believe that if it comes from you."
Adam fought to keep his expression serious. "He's right Dante. Hoss would never do anything to harm Dora in any way."
The young man seemed to relax then and sighed. "I am sorry if I seem overprotective of my sister, but I am sure you can understand that her beauty attracts many men to her. I have always had to be very careful."
"I understand," Adam said as he nodded.
Dante turned to Ben then. "Please accept my apology that it seemed like I was not taking you at your word, Mr. Cartwright."
Ben put his hand out and the younger man clasped it with a relieved expression. "Apology accepted and this is forgotten," he said. He put a hand on the younger man's shoulder and began to lead him back inside. But he glanced back at Adam and nodded toward the barn. His eldest son grinned and nodded back - he had been thinking the same thing.
As soon as the door was shut behind the two men Adam hurried to the barn and slipped in without a sound. He stood there hoping he would hear voices and frowned when he didn't. But he did hear what sounded like a sigh, and he quickly but silently moved in the direction the sound had come from.
He heard another sigh coming from the stall directly to his right and he stepped through the stall door.
The two people standing by the far wall didn't hear him or see him. Hoss had his arms wrapped tightly around Dora's waist and her arms were around his neck with her fingers buried in his hair. They were both so deeply involved in the kiss he didn't think they would notice if the building fell down around them. Then he smiled as he resisted an insane urge to start applauding.
Instead he quietly said, "Are you two going to come up for air soon?" startling Dora badly. She jumped and tried to pull away from Hoss, but he wouldn't let go. He just turned his head to calmly look at his older brother.
Adam bit back another smile. "Do you think you two can get yourselves back to the house before Dante figures this out and comes running with a very big, very sharp knife?" he asked them in a conversational tone.
Hoss laughed, but still did not let go of Dora and she hid her face in his chest. As the silence lengthened Adam abruptly understood.
"Good God, you already asked her to marry you?"
Hoss nodded his head as Dora tried to press her red face further into his chest.
Adam held back a chuckle as he choked out, "I'm assuming you said 'yes'"
Dora peeked at him and gave him a quick nod before turning her face away.
Shaking his head, Adam walked up to the couple and put his arms around both of them then couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. Hoss joined him and this time Dora laughed too.
Eventually Adam stepped back and smiled a pleased smile first at his brother, then at Dora. Both of them seemed to be surprised. "You approve?" Hoss said in a disbelieving tone.
"Very much so, but I do have to point out to you that now would not be the best of times to make an announcement. If you do, Dante will automatically think the worst and I can guarantee he WILL come after you with a very big, very sharp knife then."
The couple looked at each other and Hoss said, "He's right." Dora quickly agreed by saying, "How long do you think we should wait," as she smiled shyly at her future brother-in-law.
"If you want my advice I would wait until after Dante goes on tour. You know how protective he is of you and things will go so much more smoothly if you do."
Dora thought about this for a few moments and turned back to Hoss. "He's right," she said, echoing his own words.
"You're sure?" he said, looking down into her smiling face.
"Yes I am sure, but you may not be willing to wait for four months."
"Four months!" Hoss said, and Adam grinned at the dismay he heard in his brother's voice.
She nodded and looked up at him anxiously. Hoss looked down at her, sighed and shrugged saying, "If waiting that long'll make this easier for you, then that's what we'll do."
Dora gave him a brilliant smile and Adam hurried to interrupt and step on what he knew would be another tender moment.
"Break it up you two, we need to talk. It seems clear to me that keeping this delightful news a secret will be almost impossible without the cooperation of two key people, namely Thea and Pa. If you agree I think they should be told as soon as possible." They both immediately nodded.
"Now, do you realize how late it is? If we don't get moving soon someone will get the idea to come out here to look for her, and I don't think you want a search party showing up."
The couple looked at him expectantly as Adam thought for a moment then looked at Dora.
"Do you think you can manage to sneak around the house and get in the back way without anyone seeing you?"
"Oh yes, I am very good at such things. It was the only way I could get away from Dante to have some time to myself. He knows I will not be found if I do not wish to be found."
"Perfect, " Adam said and gave her an approving look. "You do that and find an empty room to hide in. We will wait for about fifteen minutes and come in the front door together. Hoss will tell them we were out here giving the ponies a last brushing before morning. With any luck this should work."
Dora laughed and pulled Hoss's head down for a quick kiss then he reluctantly let her go. She hurried out of the stall and they listened, but didn't hear her leave the barn.
"Well, we might as well check on the ponies since we have some time to kill," Adam said and led the way out into the aisle. The two men went to the back of the barn then into a large stall; they were surprised to see the small horses were still awake.
The gray one trotted up to Adam and banged his head sideways into the man's abdomen then began to snuffle at his shirt. He chuckled and began smoothing his hand down the pony's neck under his black mane.
The gold pony with a red-gold mane and tail looked at Hoss and patiently waited for him to come to her. When he did, she nudged his hands with her warm, velvet nose.
"She wants you to scratch her behind the ears," Adam said.
When Hoss did, the little horse closed her eyes, snorted delicately and stood perfectly still, enjoying the attention.
"Looks like you've made more than one female conquest tonight," his older brother teased and was glad to see that Hoss was no longer embarrassed. He just continued to gently scratch behind the pony's small ears as they discussed the reactions they expected from the twins when the children saw them in the morning. Then it was time to go.
They both gasped when they walked out of the barn and stepped into a wind that had become much colder. They hurried to the house. Adam let Hoss open the door and walk in first, correctly assuming that Dante would still be up and waiting for his sister. He also knew Pa would be with him, his innate good manners dictating that he could not go to bed before his last guest did so.
Adam turned to close the door against the increasing strength of the wind and he heard Dante hurrying up to Hoss.
"Where is my sister?" he said in a loud voice and leaned to the side as though expecting her to be hiding behind the big man. Hoss had just opened his mouth to answer when Dora appeared at the top of the stairs in her nightgown and robe. She yawned and rubbed her eyes before saying, "What is going on down there?"
Her brother whipped around and looked up at her with a relieved expression, "Where have you been?"
"Why?" Dora responded, coming down the stairs to the landing where she leaned on the railing.
Dante rushed to stand directly in front of her, "Why! Why do you do this to me?"
She looked down at him with a puzzled expression, "Do what to you? You are not making any sense Dante."
The young man threw his arms up and turned slightly away from her, "Dear God help me! I will be completely insane by the time you find a husband to take you off my hands."
Dora jerked upright, "Find a husband!" She stared as though he had already lost his mind.
Dante turned back and shook a finger at her, "Yes! Find a husband!"
She leaned over the railing and spoke to him in a tightly controlled voice, "How am I to find a husband when you are always so close you are suffocating me!"
Her brother was honestly outraged, "Suffocating you! How is protecting you suffocating you?"
Dora sighed in exasperation and said, "I give up. No matter what I say to you I just cannot get through. You just will not understand."
He continued to glare at her, his lips pressed together in a tight angry line.
She shook her head at him saying, "Go to bed. I am weary of trying with you."
Dante's mouth opened, but he seemingly just could not come up with anything sufficiently scathing to say, so he stalked up the stairs, sweeping past her without another word.
"Very nicely done," Adam said low into Hoss's ear. "She thinks fast."
When her brother was out of sight, Dora quickly came down the last stairs and went to stand next to Hoss and took his arm. Adam put a hand on each back and gave them a push toward Ben. Dora hesitated and Adam said, "Don't worry, he doesn't bite. Well, at least not anymore."
She quickly shot an apprehensive look at Adam over her shoulder and when she saw his teasing grin she relaxed and smiled. Hoss tugged her forward and they walked up to Ben while Adam followed.
Ben looked up at the couple and stood saying, "Well that was an interesting performance the three of you put on tonight," he said as his black eyes pinned them with a reproving look. "Adam," he continued, "would you mind not lurking behind Hoss like that?"
Adam promptly stepped up beside Hoss and gave his father a wide, unrepentant smile.
"Now, would one of you please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Dora blushed and looked down while Hoss opened his mouth, but realized he just didn't know what to say.
Adam sighed in exasperation and poked Hoss with an elbow saying, "Just tell him!"
"Oh yeah," Hoss answered, then looked at his father. "Pa, Dora and I are gettin' married," he said in a firm voice.
Ben was clearly startled, but seemed to be taking the news much better than either son expected. He looked at each person standing in front of him then sighed.
Dora had her head down as she looked at him through her upper lashes and he couldn't help but smile, comparing her shyness to Thea's boldness. So he put his head down and to the side so he could see her expression, which made her laugh and tip her beautiful face up to him. He looked into her warm gray eyes and noted her charmingly impish grin. Laughing, he put his arms around her and said, "Welcome to the family, Dora, for the second time today."