"Pa, when is my ma coming back? Inger's gone to be with my ma, hasn't she? Don't worry Pa, I'll take care of little Joe. Pa, you worry too much, I'll be back. I'm only going to college. I'll be home early, Pa, I'm just headed into town to run a few errands and then I'll be back in time to meet you so we can finish up those lumber contracts. I promise." "The barn's on fire!" "I found Sport on the road." "His initials are on the gun and the special bible verse… the one that Adam kept tucked in the brim of his hat… it's there." The charred body in the wagon. The heat of the flames, warm against his face. "I'll be back, Pa, I promise. I promise, Pa, I promise." The heat. It's just so warm.
"Adam!"
"I'll be back, Pa, I promise, Pa, I promise."
Ben's own voice awoke him. The warmth of the morning sun streaming in through the carriage house window beating hot against his face. He rubbed his eyes trying to recall the previous day's course of events. The Fire. Oh God, the fire. Turning to his right he looked at the form that was outlined by the blanket. Ben placed his hand against it and bowed his head. He felt a sob catch in his throat, the tears stinging his eyes. He slowly raised his head and cleared his throat, spying his other two sons across the way leaning against each other fast asleep. They must have been there all night. His mind was in a haze, his heart tight, his emotions spent. He retracted his hand and rubbed the beard that was starting to grow. He'd have to make the arrangements. Turning to once again look at the figure in the wagon he felt a sudden rise of nausea. Running quickly to the door Ben barely made it around the corner before emptying the contents of his stomach onto the ground. As he knelt there trying to collect himself he started to quietly sob, his body shaking violently. A gentle hand touched his back.
"Here Missa Cartlight, you drink this," the soft voice of Hop Sing said. "It make stomach feel betta. It make you feel betta."
Ben slowly raised his head and saw the mug of hot liquid being held in front of him. Reaching forward he took the cup and started to drink slowly. When he had finished he handed the cup to the Chinese cook and sat down on the ground. "Thank you Hop Sing." Several moments passed as the two sat in silence.
"I go back inside. Start breakfast," Hop Sing said turning to leave.
"My son is gone," Ben choked. "Hop Sing, Adam is dead."
The oriental man paused and bowed his head. "I know. Heart weeps for Missa Adam, too."
"I don't know if I can bury him," Ben said somberly. "I've buried three wives and now…" his voice cracked as he choked back another sob.
"You no worry, Missa Cartlight," Hop Sing replied confidently. "We make through this, together. As family. Now, I go make breakfast. You take all time you need."
Ben dropped his head and let the tears flow freely down his face.
******
Amelia shoved the nutmeg out of the way, locating the powdery drug that her and her brother had purchased from the China man in Virginia City. He had promised that it would help her sleep for hours. He did caution her of the side effects if she took too much. Amelia smiled wickedly as she poured the substance into a tin cup.
"Are you through playing nursemaid, yet?" the sarcastic tone of her brother called out to her. "I'm hungry. When are you going to fix my breakfast?"
"In a minute!" she yelled back. "I'm gettin' somethin', all right! Just leave me alone!"
"I know what you're gettin'," he commented playfully as she exited the pantry. "You're makin' a special cocktail, huh? A Ponderosa surprise, perhaps?" David took a large bite from an apple as he delighted in his own remark.
Amelia let out a disgusted sigh and crossed the room to the water pump. "You're so stupid, David," she laughed as she filled the cup.
"What did you say?" David responded as he sprung from his chair sending it back onto the floor.
Amelia realized her mistake too late. "Nothing, David. I didn't say anything."
"Yes you did," he seethed as he approached her. He leaned into her right ear. "You said I was stupid."
She laughed uncomfortably. "No I didn't. I said…"
He grabbed Amelia's shoulder, spun her around and backhanded her across the face. "You never say that about me again, you hear?"
Amelia reached up and stroked her abused cheek. "I'm sorry, David, I didn't mean…"
David pressed his index finger against her chest, lowering his voice. "Let's get one thing straight, dear sister, this whole scheme was thought of by ME. I'm the brains behind this operation and don't you forget it."
Amelia slowly nodded. She could see that look of evil dancing in her brother's eyes. It made her uncomfortable. "I won't," she whispered.
David moved back across the room grabbing the chair from the floor and forcefully standing it upright. "All right then." He plopped himself back down. "I don't know what you see in Adam Cartwright, anyway. You ask me, he's a pompous jackass."
Amelia didn't respond. She was afraid she might rile him up again. David had never hit her before and it concerned her. She had believed they were in this together. She prayed it was just the stress. "Can I take this to him?" She held up the half full tin cup.
David seemed to have regained his composure. "Yes, you may. And then you need to go into town and spring Duncan."
Amelia nodded as she made her way back down into the root cellar. When she got to the bottom she saw that Adam was still knocked out from the previous night's abuse. She pushed the metal cup to his lips trying to force him to drink. Eventually he stirred slightly taking a few, very small sips. Amelia set the cup on a barrel and then continued to dress his wounds to the best of her ability. "I'm sorry, Adam, but it's just the way it's got to be."
Adam stirred, his eyes opening into slits trying to focus on the woman before him. "'Melia?" he slurred in a scratchy voice. "Your face."
She reached up and stroked the purple bruise on her face, a deceitful idea progressing in her head. This would be her finest performance. "He's crazy, Adam," she breathed with panic in her voice. "I tried to stop him but now he's after us both. Says we can never be together. But he's wrong, Adam. When two people are in love like us they deserve to be together."
"Love? Where are…"
"Oh Adam, I don't know. I'm trying to help you all I can, but if David finds out…" she whispered as she looked around nervously.
"David?" His mind was trying to make sense of her information.
"You got sick. I tried to help, but David kidnapped you instead. You're hurt pretty badly." She turned and picked up the cup of water again. "Here, drink this." She held it to his lips and he drank it. "We have to get your strength back up. That's good. You'll be well in no time," she said with a smile.
Adam finished the water and tried to speak again, but instead he passed out.
"Amelia!" David called out from upstairs, "I'm hungry! Get up here and fix me some breakfast before you go into town!"
Amelia wrinkled her brow in anger. She turned towards Adam and ran her fingers through his sweaty, raven hair. Kissing her fingers she placed them on his lips. "I'll be back as soon as I can, lover."
