LOST AND FOUND - PART III
OLD FRIENDS
Chapter 22
Men were pouring into the Sage Brush, drawn there by the spreading word that "Buffalo Bill" Cody was in town. Adam's father and brothers had met at their usual table near the door when the legend walked in. Everyone was listening intently to the conversation going on at Cody's table so no one noticed when Adam came in, made his way to the end of the bar and leaned on it with one elbow.
The bartender, Larry, immediately came over and placed a mug of beer in front of him, but Adam didn't touch it. Cody had just started telling a tale of one of his many exploits - when he had single handedly defended a way station against a horde of rampaging Cheyenne, an account Adam knew to be entirely fictional as many of them were.
The legend was just warming up to his subject when Adam demanded, "Why don't you tell them the truth, Bill?"
Buffalo Bill stood up scowling fiercely, "And just what truth would that be?"
Adam straightened up and stepped away from the bar, "You ran around in there screaming like a girl, then puked and passed out."
"I know that voice," Bill said scanning the crowd and spotting Adam almost immediately.
"Of course that bottle of what Duncan liked to call whisky you drank might have had something to do with it," Adam mused as Cody started stalking toward him.
"You no good...ugly...lying...son-of-a..." he stopped right in front of Adam and his fierce scowl turned into a delighted grin as he held out his hand, "Adam Eden! How the hell are you?"
Adam laughed and slapped his hand into Bill's, giving it a strong, firm shake. "Fine, you ignorant bastard. Where the hell have you been?"
Cody started laughing as Adam continued, "Two years; two years and not a word from you. Thea's been worried."
"And how is that gorgeous, loving wife of yours that you don't deserve?"
"Fine, and when she finds out you've been this close to San Francisco and didn't let her know she's going to be very irritated with you."
"Speaking of being in town, what are you two doing in Virginia City?"
"We live here now. I accepted a position with the Marshall's office and you'll have to get used to calling me by the last name of Cartwright instead of Eden."
"You found your family?!?"
"No, they found me, and I think they're starting to regret it by now."
"Of course they are. When do I get to meet them?"
Adam laughed, "Actually, they're sitting right behind you."
Bill turned around and the two of them came up to the table. Ben and Hoss and Joe stood.
"Bill, this is my father Benjamin Cartwright."
Cody took Ben's hand in both of his, "My condolences, sir. I know this has been a terrible trial for you and your family."
Ben chuckled and shook the other man's hand, "Thank you...I think."
Adam turned to Hoss next, "And this is my brother Hoss Cartwright."
When Bill shook Hoss's hand he put on a serious face and said, "You have my deepest sympathy." Hoss just nodded his head and grinned.
Both irritated and amused Adam turned to Joe, "And this is my other brother Joseph Cartwright."
Bill shook his head and gave Joe his hand, "Such a terrible tragedy to happen to someone so young. You'll be in my prayers, son." Joe couldn't help but laugh at Bill's pious expression.
"Are you finished?" Adam said and pulled a chair out while indicating for Bill to have a seat.
"Why yes, I think I am," Cody laughed.
"You are such a ham. Are you always on stage now?"
"Pretty much," Cody said and smiled, not in the least bit repentant. "But tell me the truth, how is Thea?"
"By that I figure you're asking if she's still annoyed with you, and the answer is 'yes'."
"I would have thought she would be over that by now.'
"No she is not over it."
"It was just a harmless prank. "
"A harmless prank? You shaved her dog."
"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Look, just because the dog was a sheep dog did not mean you needed to shear him." Adam shook his head at Bill. "Just how drunk were you?"
"I don't remember."
"I'll bet," Adam said then gave him a narrow look. "So tell me, did it grow back?"
"Eventually, yes."
"Took about a year, didn't it?'
Bill looked at Adam in surprise. "How did you know?"
"Because that's how long it took for that damn dog to get back to normal. I told you Bill, she did it on purpose."
"No, Thea wouldn't do something that spiteful."
Adam rolled his eyes and sighed. "This is starting to become irritating. Why does everyone think they know my wife better than I do?"
Joe couldn't take not knowing and interrupted, "What did she do?"
"She bided her time and waited until Bill had a chest cold. Then put a mustard plaster on him that made all his chest hair fall out."
Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise and disbelief while Joe dissolved into laughter.
"She really did that?" Hoss asked, giving Adam a skeptical look.
"YES!" Adam almost shouted, clearly annoyed.
"No," Bill persisted, "she wouldn't do that, she's too sweet."
"All right, that does it. We are going to ask her," Adam said then nodded toward the door. Thea had just come in and stood there smiling.
Bill got up and met her halfway to the table, scooped her up, and twirled her around. "Bill!" she laughed, "now is not a good time to do that, I'm still a little unsteady."
He immediately set her down carefully. "Unsteady?" he asked.
She nodded, "Giving birth can do that to a woman," she whispered and laughed at his expression.
Smiling down at her he offered her his arm then escorted her to the table. The men stood and after Thea was seated Bill gave Adam an admonishing look.
"Another child? Don't you think that was a little too soon?"
"Not that it's any of your business Bill, but the twins are four years old now, and soon to be five." Adam was clearly passing annoyed and was becoming angry.
"No, that can't be!" Cody said then looked at Thea for confirmation. She nodded.
"So what was this one?"
"All three were boys," Adam answered him and changed the subject as Bill stared at him in disbelief. "Ask her Bill."
"No, that would be an insult to the lady."
"If you don't, I will."
"All right!" Bill said, and reluctantly turned to Thea who was looking at him expectantly.
"Thea, I'm sure this brute of a husband of yours is wrong, but he insists you did something on purpose with that mustard plaster to get back at me for shearing Chester."
Thea laughed her sweet laugh and patted Bill on the arm. "Of course I did Bill, you deserved it. I was just teaching you a lesson."
His mouth fell open and he stared at her. Thea grinned cheekily back at him, a wicked gleam in her eye.
The silence lengthened until it was finally broken by Bill's huge roar of laughter. "You naughty child! I never would have believed it of you."
"I know," Thea said, still grinning as the rest of the men at the table began laughing too.
When they finally quieted down Cody turned to her again. "So what was the lesson?"
She leaned forward and looked him in the eye. "Never, ever, mess with me and what is mine."
Adam stood then and helped Thea up as he shook his head. The other men automatically stood and they all looked at Thea in disbelief.
"Why are you all so surprised?" her husband said as he offered her his arm. "Who do you think she got that attitude from?"
Thea laughed again and winked at Bill, "Adam's father and brothers are coming for dinner tonight Bill, so why don't you come too? You can't miss our house it's the cream-colored brick with two towers on the north end of town. Dinner is at six o'clock, and don't worry, I'll behave myself and all is forgiven," she said as they turned away and strolled out the door.
The four men left behind sat back down and looked blankly at each other.
"I'm not sure if I should be afraid of her or proud of her," Joe said looking at his father.
Ben laughed, "Well, I think I'm going to choose to be proud. She is family now, after all."
"Yeah," Hoss said, "That means you and me and Joe are safe, right?"
"Yes it does," his father answered, still smiling.
Bill Cody cleared his throat, "So tell me Mr. Cartwright, have you ever considered adopting another son?"
OLD FRIENDS
Chapter 22
Men were pouring into the Sage Brush, drawn there by the spreading word that "Buffalo Bill" Cody was in town. Adam's father and brothers had met at their usual table near the door when the legend walked in. Everyone was listening intently to the conversation going on at Cody's table so no one noticed when Adam came in, made his way to the end of the bar and leaned on it with one elbow.
The bartender, Larry, immediately came over and placed a mug of beer in front of him, but Adam didn't touch it. Cody had just started telling a tale of one of his many exploits - when he had single handedly defended a way station against a horde of rampaging Cheyenne, an account Adam knew to be entirely fictional as many of them were.
The legend was just warming up to his subject when Adam demanded, "Why don't you tell them the truth, Bill?"
Buffalo Bill stood up scowling fiercely, "And just what truth would that be?"
Adam straightened up and stepped away from the bar, "You ran around in there screaming like a girl, then puked and passed out."
"I know that voice," Bill said scanning the crowd and spotting Adam almost immediately.
"Of course that bottle of what Duncan liked to call whisky you drank might have had something to do with it," Adam mused as Cody started stalking toward him.
"You no good...ugly...lying...son-of-a..." he stopped right in front of Adam and his fierce scowl turned into a delighted grin as he held out his hand, "Adam Eden! How the hell are you?"
Adam laughed and slapped his hand into Bill's, giving it a strong, firm shake. "Fine, you ignorant bastard. Where the hell have you been?"
Cody started laughing as Adam continued, "Two years; two years and not a word from you. Thea's been worried."
"And how is that gorgeous, loving wife of yours that you don't deserve?"
"Fine, and when she finds out you've been this close to San Francisco and didn't let her know she's going to be very irritated with you."
"Speaking of being in town, what are you two doing in Virginia City?"
"We live here now. I accepted a position with the Marshall's office and you'll have to get used to calling me by the last name of Cartwright instead of Eden."
"You found your family?!?"
"No, they found me, and I think they're starting to regret it by now."
"Of course they are. When do I get to meet them?"
Adam laughed, "Actually, they're sitting right behind you."
Bill turned around and the two of them came up to the table. Ben and Hoss and Joe stood.
"Bill, this is my father Benjamin Cartwright."
Cody took Ben's hand in both of his, "My condolences, sir. I know this has been a terrible trial for you and your family."
Ben chuckled and shook the other man's hand, "Thank you...I think."
Adam turned to Hoss next, "And this is my brother Hoss Cartwright."
When Bill shook Hoss's hand he put on a serious face and said, "You have my deepest sympathy." Hoss just nodded his head and grinned.
Both irritated and amused Adam turned to Joe, "And this is my other brother Joseph Cartwright."
Bill shook his head and gave Joe his hand, "Such a terrible tragedy to happen to someone so young. You'll be in my prayers, son." Joe couldn't help but laugh at Bill's pious expression.
"Are you finished?" Adam said and pulled a chair out while indicating for Bill to have a seat.
"Why yes, I think I am," Cody laughed.
"You are such a ham. Are you always on stage now?"
"Pretty much," Cody said and smiled, not in the least bit repentant. "But tell me the truth, how is Thea?"
"By that I figure you're asking if she's still annoyed with you, and the answer is 'yes'."
"I would have thought she would be over that by now.'
"No she is not over it."
"It was just a harmless prank. "
"A harmless prank? You shaved her dog."
"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Look, just because the dog was a sheep dog did not mean you needed to shear him." Adam shook his head at Bill. "Just how drunk were you?"
"I don't remember."
"I'll bet," Adam said then gave him a narrow look. "So tell me, did it grow back?"
"Eventually, yes."
"Took about a year, didn't it?'
Bill looked at Adam in surprise. "How did you know?"
"Because that's how long it took for that damn dog to get back to normal. I told you Bill, she did it on purpose."
"No, Thea wouldn't do something that spiteful."
Adam rolled his eyes and sighed. "This is starting to become irritating. Why does everyone think they know my wife better than I do?"
Joe couldn't take not knowing and interrupted, "What did she do?"
"She bided her time and waited until Bill had a chest cold. Then put a mustard plaster on him that made all his chest hair fall out."
Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise and disbelief while Joe dissolved into laughter.
"She really did that?" Hoss asked, giving Adam a skeptical look.
"YES!" Adam almost shouted, clearly annoyed.
"No," Bill persisted, "she wouldn't do that, she's too sweet."
"All right, that does it. We are going to ask her," Adam said then nodded toward the door. Thea had just come in and stood there smiling.
Bill got up and met her halfway to the table, scooped her up, and twirled her around. "Bill!" she laughed, "now is not a good time to do that, I'm still a little unsteady."
He immediately set her down carefully. "Unsteady?" he asked.
She nodded, "Giving birth can do that to a woman," she whispered and laughed at his expression.
Smiling down at her he offered her his arm then escorted her to the table. The men stood and after Thea was seated Bill gave Adam an admonishing look.
"Another child? Don't you think that was a little too soon?"
"Not that it's any of your business Bill, but the twins are four years old now, and soon to be five." Adam was clearly passing annoyed and was becoming angry.
"No, that can't be!" Cody said then looked at Thea for confirmation. She nodded.
"So what was this one?"
"All three were boys," Adam answered him and changed the subject as Bill stared at him in disbelief. "Ask her Bill."
"No, that would be an insult to the lady."
"If you don't, I will."
"All right!" Bill said, and reluctantly turned to Thea who was looking at him expectantly.
"Thea, I'm sure this brute of a husband of yours is wrong, but he insists you did something on purpose with that mustard plaster to get back at me for shearing Chester."
Thea laughed her sweet laugh and patted Bill on the arm. "Of course I did Bill, you deserved it. I was just teaching you a lesson."
His mouth fell open and he stared at her. Thea grinned cheekily back at him, a wicked gleam in her eye.
The silence lengthened until it was finally broken by Bill's huge roar of laughter. "You naughty child! I never would have believed it of you."
"I know," Thea said, still grinning as the rest of the men at the table began laughing too.
When they finally quieted down Cody turned to her again. "So what was the lesson?"
She leaned forward and looked him in the eye. "Never, ever, mess with me and what is mine."
Adam stood then and helped Thea up as he shook his head. The other men automatically stood and they all looked at Thea in disbelief.
"Why are you all so surprised?" her husband said as he offered her his arm. "Who do you think she got that attitude from?"
Thea laughed again and winked at Bill, "Adam's father and brothers are coming for dinner tonight Bill, so why don't you come too? You can't miss our house it's the cream-colored brick with two towers on the north end of town. Dinner is at six o'clock, and don't worry, I'll behave myself and all is forgiven," she said as they turned away and strolled out the door.
The four men left behind sat back down and looked blankly at each other.
"I'm not sure if I should be afraid of her or proud of her," Joe said looking at his father.
Ben laughed, "Well, I think I'm going to choose to be proud. She is family now, after all."
"Yeah," Hoss said, "That means you and me and Joe are safe, right?"
"Yes it does," his father answered, still smiling.
Bill Cody cleared his throat, "So tell me Mr. Cartwright, have you ever considered adopting another son?"