LOST AND FOUND - PART II
WELCOME HOME
CHAPTER 12
Joe was the first one out of the private car, almost before it stopped moving, and he was practically dancing with impatience. He just couldn't wait - he wanted to run through town, shouting the news that Adam had been found at the top of his voice.
Hoss and Ben were coming down the steps when a wagon and buggy were delivered from the livery. Thea and the children were still in the car when Adam came down and said, "Why don't we form a bucket brigade and get the luggage in the wagon that way."
The other three men agreed and everything went smoothly; the wagon was loaded in record time. They started to break the line when Adam said, "Wait there's two more," and proceeded to pick up Alexander and toss him to Ben. Annalise was next and she giggled with happiness when she finally landed in Hoss's arms. Joe was holding Alexander when Adam picked Thea up with one arm around her thighs and she half-sat on his shoulder as he walked up to his father. "Where do you want this last bag, sir?"
Thea was laughing too hard to protest as Ben played along by grinning and nodding toward the buggy. Adam carried her over and set her down on her feet as Hoss and Joe brought the children. She looked down into his smiling face and said, "So, are you going to do it?"
He nodded and gave her a wicked grin. "I don't want to disappoint Joe. You just be careful driving this through town." She crossed her eyes and nodded idiotically at him, "I'll do my best mister," and he laughed as he walked back to the car and went inside.
When he came back out, he had Balor with him. He led the dog over to the buggy and instructed him to jump into the back seat where the twins were. Then he turned back to his youngest brother who was standing there with an expectant look on his face.
"Well Joseph, I need to pay a courtesy call on Roy before we go home. Would you care to take a little stroll through town with me?"
Joe's incredibly wide smile was his answer and the two men stepped up on the board sidewalk and began walking slowly toward the Sheriff's office several blocks away as the wagon and buggy started down the street.
Being Saturday morning, a good number of the population were out shopping and taking care of various errands. A tall heavy-set man was the first they encountered and Joe said, "Morning Sam," as they passed. Sam had merely nodded with a smile and he was past the two before he realized what he had just seen. He looked back over his shoulder, but didn't stop walking, so he banged right into a small group of men leaving the barbershop and a fight started.
The next block had more people and one man walked into a roof support, while another fell over a hitching rail. Some people were bumping into and tripping over each other while the rest just stopped dead and stared as both Cartwright men went by.
As they approached an older woman they both tipped their hats and Joe said, "Good morning," while Adam said, "Mrs. Grundy" pleasantly. She stopped abruptly and watched them go by with huge eyes. After they were past, she let out a shriek, threw her arms up to cover her head, and the parcels she was carrying went everywhere.
Joe and Adam turned around and came back to pick them up for her, aware that all movement on the street had stopped and voices were passing the news up and down the street that Adam was back.
They handed the parcels to the woman, tipped their hats again and proceeded on, only now everyone on the street was staring. One older man stepped quickly back as Adam passed him, as though he was afraid he might be touched, and fell back into a horse trough. The watching crowd started to laugh at that and the two men went on their way down the next block weaving around the staring people.
The wagon and buggy were already in front of the Sheriff's office when Adam and Joe passed a saloon. People were crowded into the doorway, having come to look at whatever the commotion was all about. A well-endowed blonde pushed her way out and came running up to Adam and threw her arms around his neck. She pulled his head down and tried to kiss him, but was pushed gently away.
"Adam! I knew you would come back. I didn't believe all those people who were saying you were dead," she gushed and tried to kiss him again. Again, she was pushed gently away.
"Why do you keep doing that? What's wrong?"
Adam held up his left hand to show her his wedding ring. "First of all, I'm married, second, I'm sorry but I don't remember you, and third, my wife is standing right behind you and she looks extremely irritated," he smiled at the young woman apologetically.
The blonde looked over her shoulder slowly with wide eyes and she jumped when she met Thea's cold stare. She let go of Adam and stepped back, her face a bright red. "I didn't know..." she started to say to Thea who interrupted her.
"No, you didn't know," she said quietly, "but now you do," the tightly controlled fury in her expression frightened the other woman, "so go away. Now."
The woman fled back into the saloon as the men in the doorway laughed. Thea shook her head, "Only back in town for a few minutes and already you're bringing them out of the woodwork."
Adam shrugged and said, "That's not my fault."
"I know," his wife answered, "and THAT is why it is so annoying."
Adam was shaking his head at Thea as she just put her nose in the air and walked back to the buggy. Her husband turned to Joe, "Who was that?"
"Maisy."
"Oh," Adam said then shrugged. "No, can't remember a thing," he said as they reached the office and he paused with his hand on the doorknob. "I won't be long."
Roy looked up from his desk as the door opened and Adam stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Can I help you?" he said, but Adam didn't answer him at first. He just stood there smiling for a few moments.
"What's the matter, Roy, don't you recognize me?" he said and took off his hat as he approached the older man's desk. At the sound of his voice, the Sheriff's eyes opened wide and he stood and tried to come around the desk too quickly, smashing his knee into the corner.
Adam came up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy Roy, I'm not going to disappear. At least not again anyway," he said and the older man laughed.
"What happened Adam, where have you been?"
"It's a long story, so come out to the house while we're here and I'll tell you all about it."
"We?"
"Yes, I brought my wife and children with me."
"Wife? Children?"
Adam sighed, aware he would be getting this reaction many times more before they left. "Yes, they're waiting outside. But the other reason I came in was to pay you a courtesy call now that I'm in your jurisdiction," he reached into a pocket and handed the Sheriff the leather wallet that held his badge and identification.
The older man opened it and looked at them blankly for a moment then at Adam, then at his identification again.
"I would appreciate you keeping this to yourself, Roy. I'm only here for a visit this time, not in any official capacity. We won't actually be moving here for a few months yet."
"So when you do move here it will be official?"
Adam just nodded, smiling at the older man.
"You involved with the regional office?"
Adam nodded again and Roy laughed.
"You'll really have this town standing on its ear then, won't you?"
This time, Adam just shrugged and raised his eyebrows saying, "Come on out and meet my family."
Roy was still chuckling as Adam held the office door open for him then followed him out. Thea held Annalise with one arm and had Alexander by the hand. Adam picked up his son and turned back to the Sheriff. "Roy, this is my wife Theadora, my daughter Annalise, and my son Alexander."
Thea gave him her now free hand with a brilliant smile, "I'm so pleased to meet you, Roy."
The Sheriff was clearly dazzled and he actually blushed a little as he smiled back at her, "I'm meased to pleet...I mean pleased to meet you too, ma'am," he murmured and ducked his head in embarrassment. She laughed and squeezed his hand before letting go. When she turned toward Adam she spotted a man coming down the sidewalk across the street.
"Adam...that man looks familiar, but I can't tell. Is that Matt?"
Her husband turned to look. "I think it is," he said and whistled his piercing whistle.
The tall, gangly man's head came up like a hound on point and he turned toward the sound. He raised a hand to shade his eyes and they could see him smile a broad smile as he dashed across and down the street toward them.
"Adam! Thea! What are you doing here?" he hugged Thea and turned to shake Adam's hand.
"Believe it or not, we are here to visit my family," Adam answered grinning at the boyish man.
"Family! You mean you finally found them?"
"No, actually they found me," Adam nodded toward his father and brothers.
"Ben, and Hoss, and Joe are your family!"
Adam nodded.
Ben spoke up, "How do you know Adam and Thea?"
Matt laughed, "Thea and I were graduated from medical school together. In fact, if it hadn't been for her I probably wouldn't have made it through."
"Matt! That's not true!" Thea protested.
"Yes it is," he insisted. "Thea held my hand the whole way through and if I am half the doctor she is I'd be proud."
Thea blushed and gave him an admonishing look. "Now stop that, you helped me too."
He patted her on the head; "I think you've been in the sun too long, you poor child" he laughed, "Adam, you better get her inside soon."
The rest of the family laughed while Thea gave Matt an extremely irritated look. He immediately apologized, "I'm sorry Thea, you know I was just joking. Except for that part about you being the best."
She was still annoyed.
"But I would appreciate your taking a quick look at my office and giving me your opinion."
Thea's face brightened and she turned to her husband, "Do you mind? I'm sure I won't be long."
"As if I could stop you," Adam laughed then turned to Matt. "Just don't let her start cutting on anyone while she's over there."
"I won't," Matt promised as Thea handed Annalise to Joe who had come to stand in between her and Hoss.
The doctor had his back to Adam so only his brothers saw the look he gave her as she put her arm in his and they started across the street.
Adam watched them intently until they reached the office and went in. His brothers had moved forward to stand next to him, one on either side. He smiled, aware of why they had done so. "Don't worry," he said, "I've known how Matt feels about Thea from the first time I met him, but nothing will happen."
"How do you know that?" Joe said.
"Could it be because I trust my wife?" he said as he turned to Joe. "Besides, Matt knows if he ever tried anything with her she would shut him out of her life forever."
"You're sure?" Hoss asked as he moved to stand beside Joe.
"Oh yes, I've seen it happen before." He put Alexander down, took Annalise from Joe and put her down then told the children to go to their grandfather, and they trotted off.
"Let me explain something to you. You think you know Thea, but you really don't yet. She can be extremely hard and unbending."
"Thea?!" Hoss and Joe said together.
Adam shook his head, "I'm telling you the truth. There are two things she will never forgive you for if you are her friend. One is trying to harm the people she loves and the other is betraying her trust. There are no second chances with her if you are stupid enough to do either of those things."
He glanced across and up the street; Thea and Matt were coming out the office door. "But neither of you have to worry about that, you're her family now and she would do anything for you. Matt, however, is not family."
Joe and Hoss exchanged a doubtful look, "Don't worry," Adam said firmly, "I know my wife."
When the two stepped up on the sidewalk Thea dropped Matt's arm and went to Adam and took his. "I think it's time we head home, don't you think?" she said to him.
He nodded as they all walked toward Ben and the Sheriff. "Good to see you again, Matt. Don't forget to come out and see us before we leave. You too, Roy."
Both men said they would as Adam helped Thea up into the buggy. Ben lifted the children into the back seat from the other side. Adam waited until he backed the buggy up and were on their way before turning to his wife.
"Any change?"
She shook her head, "No. I wish he would at least try to find someone."
"I do too, but that's for purely selfish reasons."
When he glanced at her again she had her head down and was staring at her hands in her lap. "What?"
"He asked me to go into partnership with him in his practice. He figures with me there the women of this town will finally get the full medical care they need."
Adam didn't respond for a few minutes as he thought that over then startled her with his answer. "If you want to, if this is something you would like to do, I think you should."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you to give up practicing medicine, and seeing you on a regular basis might finally make him accept the fact that nothing will ever happen between you."
"I never thought of that. I think you're right."
"Of course I'm right. I'm always right," he laughed and she smiled briefly then gave him a narrow look.
"Adam, my love."
"Yes, my dove?" he was still laughing at her.
"I thought you said you never lie?"
Her husband just laughed harder for a minute then put one arm around her, pulling her up against his side. Not hearing anything from the twins, Thea glanced over her shoulder and couldn't help but smile at the sight of the huge dog sitting bolt upright between the two children on the seat. Her children smiled back at her with the pleased expressions they always wore when their father was showing her affection.
When she turned back around, she realized they were heading in a direction that was opposite from what she thought was the way to the ranch. As though reading her mind, Adam said, "I have to stop and see Hal before we go home."
A few minutes later they reached the other end of town and he pulled the buggy up in front of a large, beautifully proportioned house of dark cream- colored brick. The house was shaped much like a medieval keep, being square with a round tower-like projection on the two front corners.
The trim and doors were a soft, dusty blue and each window was bordered with squares of stained glass in alternating pale colors of blue, rose, green, and amber. Each tower had an outside entrance and was domed on top with glass held in a fretwork of iron bands.
A wide, covered porch stretched from tower to tower on the front of the house, with steps in the center that led up to the dusty blue front door.
Thea sighed with pleasure when she saw the house and waved to Hal when he opened the front door and came out. Adam bounded up the steps, shook the man's hand and took the papers held out to him. He tucked the folded packet into an inside suit pocket, shook the man's hand again then came back to the buggy.
"Is everybody ready to leave town now?" he asked and his wife and children nodded. Then Adam glanced at Balor who was staring straight ahead, having not moved at all. Then huge dog turned his head to look at his master and huffed at him while shifting his front feet with impatience. "I'll take that as a 'yes'" he said and his wife and children laughed as he climbed up onto the seat and picked up the reins.
Small groups of people had formed on the sidewalks and it was clear most of them were still discussing Adam's mysterious return. Many heads turned as they watched the buggy roll slowly by, "You enjoyed shocking all these people during your little stroll through town, didn't you?" Thea said with glee.
"Yes, I have to admit I did," he said with a smile at her.
"Hmmm...why do I have this feeling you had other reasons besides not wanting to disappoint Joe?"
He grinned, "Could it be because you have brains as well as beauty? And possibly the fact that you know me so well, inside and out?" He didn't move his head again, but surveyed the people on the street with just his eyes.
"Panic, confusion, and mayhem ensue; my work here is done," he said softly and his smile widened.
"That's exactly what you wanted, isn't it?"
"Yes. I want them to be off balance, I want them to be unsure. Now all I need is one incident to establish my authority and everything should be reasonably smooth sailing after that."
Thea allowed herself to laugh, now that they were past the town.
"And if that incident doesn't just occur before we leave, I'll have to go looking for something," Adam continued. "It's very important that these people not be allowed to see me as the same person who left here six years ago. My position in this community needs to be established before they relax and drop me back into that spot in their minds where I was before."
"Oh, you are so tricky!" she said with open admiration.
"Tricky, devious, resourceful, creative. All terms for the same thing, just different ways of looking at it," he said and then his eyes took on a faraway look she was very familiar with. He was, no doubt, going over what would be his next moves in the weeks and months to come, before and after they moved here permanently.
Knowing she would get no response from him except a blank stare until he was finished, Thea settled back and just enjoyed watching the scenery. But she again wondered how he could do that - be someplace else mentally, yet still react and function normally.
The wagon caught up to them just as they reached the house. Adam pulled the buggy up to the hitching rail and jumped down to come around to Thea's side.
Ben came over to lift the children down and started toward the house with them while Adam helped Thea. The front door opened and Hop Sing came out. When he spotted Ben with the children he called, "You bring home guests Mister Ben?"
"No not guests, these two are family." He smiled at the Chinese man's puzzled expression, which turned into wide-eyed astonishment when Adam came out from the other side of the buggy with Thea.
They walked slowly up to the little man and when they were standing right in front of him he said something softly in Chinese.
"Now how could I be a ghost?" Adam asked in a reasonable tone as Ben came up to stand beside Thea.
"We found him in San Francisco," Ben explained, and Hop Sing gave him a dubious look. He cautiously reached out a hand and poked Adam in the chest.
When his finger encountered a solid person he smiled widely with joy, then his expression turned into a fierce scowl.
"Where you been?" he shook a finger in Adam's face, "everybody worry for six year!"
Adam laughed, "It's a long story and I'll tell you all about it later. Right now I want you to meet my wife, Theadora."
The Chinese man turned his eyes to Thea and his mouth fell open in astonishment when she bowed slightly at the waist and spoke a traditional greeting in Cantonese.
Smiling, he spoke a traditional response, and then continued in Cantonese, asking her a question.
"No, I only know how to speak a little of your language and you've just about heard it all. But both Adam and I do understand some."
Hop Sing looked at Adam, who nodded. Then he turned his attention to the children.
"This is my grandson Alexander," Ben said, "and this is my granddaughter Annalise."
"How old?" the little man said and the two children each held up a hand with the thumb folded down. He turned back to Adam. "Two?"
"If you mean twins, then yes, they are."
Hop Sing seemingly was very impressed. "You very blessed Mister Adam," he said, "you come inside now. I make coffee," he said and trotted into the house.
Joe and Hoss had joined their little group now and they all filed into the house, Thea first.
She walked into the center of the great room and stood there, turning slowly as she took in all the details.
Adam took the twins from his father and carried them to the sofa while Ben moved to stand next to Thea. She turned to him with shining eyes.
"Oh Pa, you're house is just perfect," she said softly then threw her arms around him. "Now THIS house is a home!" she enthused.
Ben laughed and hugged her back for a moment. "I'm glad you like it," he smiled down into her happy face as Adam came to sit on the low table in front of the sofa and looked at his children.
The four adults came over to lean on the back of the sofa and listen - it looked like Adam had something very important to say.
"Now that we are finally here we are going to set some rules for while we are staying in your grandfather's house. One, you will not touch anything, and I mean ANYTHING unless it belongs to you. Two, you will never, ever be out of sight of this house without one of us. Three, you will not touch any animal; no matter what kind it is, without an adult present. Four, you will obey your grandfather, your uncles, and Hop Sing the same way you would your mother or I. And five, any rule we had established at the house in San Francisco will be the same here. Do you understand?"
The children looked back at their father with solemn expressions and nodded earnestly.
"Remember that if you break any one of these rules, you will be punished. No exceptions, no excuses. Got it?"
They nodded again, looking at their father with wide, innocent eyes, as though they just couldn't believe he would think they would do such things.
Thea was biting her lip as hard as she could and the men were trying very hard to hold onto their serious expressions.
"I think I'll go see if Hop Sing can use some help," Thea said in a choked voice and hurried over to the kitchen door. Ben, Joe, and Hoss were surprised when she stopped to knock on the door and say something in Cantonese. Hop Sing answered her and she went into the kitchen. Immediately they heard her muffled laughter.
"Why did she do that?" Hoss said, looking at Adam.
"She was just being polite by asking him permission to enter his kitchen. Good manners and respect are very important in Chinese culture."
Ben was impressed, "You mean you understood what they were saying?"
Adam nodded. "Most of the important words - but don't ask me to speak any of it! I've tried and it's just hopeless." He turned his attention back to the children.
"Can you two manage to behave yourselves and stay right here while we bring everything in?"
"Yes Pa," they said together and gave him innocent smiles.
"Alright, you just stay sitting on this couch, and I mean sitting. No bouncing, standing, or rolling around," he said as he stood and the men all went outside and began to carry the bags in. Adam took a moment to bring Balor in and ordered him to lie down beside the sofa.
The coffee was ready when they finished and Thea helped Hop Sing carry trays to the table in front of the sofa. He put his tray down and when he turned away he noticed the dog. Balor sat up and growled at him, his amber eyes glowing and his lips rippling over his white fangs.
Adam immediately said "Balor, down!" and the dog instantly obeyed.
Hop Sing turned to Adam with a white face, "What is that?"
Laughing, Adam said "Just a dog, but a very loyal dog. He is always with the twins to guard them."
"Oh," the Chinese man said softly, giving the dog a wary look. "He bite?"
"Balor will only attack if I tell him to."
"Good," Hop Sing said, sidled past him, and went back into the kitchen.
Looking at the twins Adam could see they were bursting with the need to move. "You two can go outside, but DO NOT leave the front yard."
The two children slid off the sofa and trotted through the front door as their father told Balor to "guard." The huge animal rose and padded out after them.
Adam came to sit beside Thea on the sofa and took her hand, letting out a deep breath.
Ben poured the coffee and said, "We'll all try to help keep an eye on them, Adam."
"Thank you," his eldest son said. "But from my experience it would take a whole regiment to keep those two out of trouble. It always amazes me how they manage to find something new, something that hasn't already been covered by a rule, to get in trouble with."
"Unfortunately we have been cursed with intelligent, lively children," Thea said wryly.
Adam smiled, appreciating her point.
Joe looked at Thea and asked, "So you've known Matt for years?" Adam rolled his eyes and sighed, knowing what was coming.
She nodded, "Yes, and he was really exaggerating. He could have made it through medical school all by himself he didn't really need me. But I certainly appreciated HIS help. I faced the same hostility in school that I had thrown in my face almost every day at the hospital. Matt tried to protect me."
Joe nodded, but his odd expression finally registered with Thea. "Oh, you must have noticed how Matt looks at me like a sick calf whenever he thinks no one is looking."
Hoss and Joe nodded, while their father's face registered disapproval. "This is news to me," Ben said.
"Don't worry about it," Thea laughed, "Matt thinks he loves me, but he doesn't. He'll figure that out eventually, now that we're going to be partners."
Her three new relatives all sat up quickly, startled.
"Partners?" Ben asked, definitely not happy with the idea.
"Mm hmm. Some space is available for rent on the other side of town across from a saloon that just opened. We'll need a bigger office for the two of us."
Joe, Hoss, and Ben looked at Adam. He sighed again.
"This is Thea's decision, but I happen to agree with her. I don't want her to stop practicing medicine and I believe seeing her every day will force him to realize she is my wife and that is not ever going to change."
Thea nodded emphatically and squeezed his hand.
Ben thought about this for a minute. "I think you're right."
Joe, they could plainly see, did not agree while Hoss seemed to still be on the fence.
"I'm looking forward to limiting my practice to female patients and children. I hope the women in Virginia City will feel more inclined to seek medical care if they know the doctor is female."
Joe had just opened his mouth, no doubt to argue the point some more when they heard the shrill sound of a police whistle.
Adam stood, vaulted over the back of the sofa, and was out the door in the blink of an eye. Thea followed quickly, but took a more conventional route. When she came out she saw Annalise under a large tree near the barn. She was talking to her father and pointing up while Balor kept circling the trunk. She could hear him whimpering in distress.
Thea looked at the huge, tall tree and her heart clenched in her chest. She ran to them as fast as she could and was followed closely by the rest of the family.
Just as she reached the tree, Adam swung himself up and began to climb toward Alexander who was so far up he was hard to see. Annalise ran to her mother and Thea picked her up, staring anxiously upward as Ben, Hoss, and Joe came to stand next to her. Balor stopped circling the tree and came over to sit in between her and her father-in-law.
Her husband was moving nimbly and quickly up the tree and Thea breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him reach the branch her son was sitting on.
Adam carefully pulled himself up next to Alexander and sat on the same thick branch, then leaned back against another and looked at his son. The boy was desperately clutching the trunk of the tree with his back to his father.
"Looks like you got yourself into a bit of a situation here, haven't you?" he said to his son in a conversational tone as he swung his legs.
"Yes Pa," the boy said, trying not to cry.
"Why," his father continued, "what on earth possessed you to climb this tree?"
"I didn't climb it," Alexander said with a muffled voice.
Adam frowned, "Well, I know you can't fly," he said and looked around for a moment, then understood.
Trying not to laugh he said, "You mean you went up on the silo roof and jumped over to this branch?"
Alexander nodded, opened his eyes a bit then slammed them shut in terror.
"Good Lord," his father said then reached out and pulled him off the trunk and into his lap. He wrapped his arms around the boy tightly and could feel him trembling.
"Oh, Alexander. Just when I think you have learned a lesson about doing stupid things you manage to dig a little deeper into stupidity. But you are not stupid, son, so tell me why do you do these things?"
Alexander had stopped trembling now that he was in the safety of his father's arms, and he cried out "I don't know!" in true anguish.
Adam chuckled and squeezed his son even tighter. "Well, we have to figure this out, because you can't continue to do things like this; I can't be with you twenty-four hours a day." The boy nodded, bumping the back of his head on his father's hard chest.
"We'll talk about that later after I have a chance to do some thinking about it. But right now I want you to look down."
The boy started to tremble again, but his father insisted. "It's alright, you're safe with me. Look down."
"Do I have to, Pa?"
"Yes, you do."
Alexander slowly opened his eyes and cautiously stretched his head forward. Somehow looking down with his father's arms around him wasn't nearly as frightening as when he was alone.
"You see all those people down there? You frightened the wits out of all of them by what you've done, by you're irresponsible behavior. You are going to be five soon and it's time for you to learn now to use the brains God gave you. Now, after I take you down, you are going to go to each person and apologize to them for scaring them so badly. Understand?"
The boy nodded and leaned back against his father again, willing to do anything that would make his father forgive him.
"I'm talking about how what you do affects other people again. Do you remember?"
Alexander nodded then hung his head.
"Alright, it's time to go down now." He picked the boy up and lifted him over his head. Alex put his arms around his father's neck and squeezed tightly. Adam patted his arms saying, "Loosen your hold just a little. Being able to breathe is important for climbing down a tree."
Adam started down, being careful to not joggle Alexander any more than was necessary. When he was near the bottom he stopped, motioned for Hoss to come over, and handed his son down into his brother's arms.
Hoss immediately turned and gave the boy to his mother while Adam dropped to the ground.
Thea clutched Alexander tightly, closed her eyes in relief then took a deep breath and held it to keep from shouting at him. In a moment she calmed down and opened her eyes to see Adam standing in front of her, perfect understanding of what she was feeling in his eyes.
He took the boy from her arms, set him on his feet and gave him a firm look that reminded the boy of what he had been told to do.
Alexander turned to his mother, "I'm sorry Ma, I didn't mean to scare you so bad. You too Annalise." He glanced at his father who nodded for him to go on.
He straightened his little shoulders and went to his grandfather next. "I'm sorry, grandpa. I never shoulda gone up on that roof and jumped onto that stupid branch," he said earnestly.
His grandfather tried not to smile as he answered. "Apology accepted, Alexander," he said and surprised the boy by taking his hand and shaking it.
He stepped up to Hoss then. "Uncle Hoss, please forgive me for frightnin' the wits out of you," he said, using the words his father had said. Adam put a hand up to his mouth to cover a smile.
"You're forgiven' little fella. Just remember not to do somethin' like that again." The boy nodded and gave his uncle a grateful look.
Joe didn't even try to not smile when his nephew marched over to him. "Can you forgive me for scarin' you so bad Uncle Joe?"
"Yes I can Alexander, because it takes a big man to admit he has made a mistake and apologize for it." Alexander smiled with relief and turned to walk back to his father and lean against his hard leg. Adam put a hand on the boy's head and smoothed his hair back.
"Did I do it right, Pa?" he said in a small voice.
"That was absolutely perfect, Alex."
The boy quickly looked up at his father and was awed by the unreserved approval he saw there.
Adam bent down to pick up his son and the family started walking back to the house with Balor closely following behind Thea and Annalise.
"Wait Pa," Alexander said low into his father's ear.
"What?"
"I didn't apologize to you yet."
"You're right, you didn't."
"I'm real sorry, Pa," the boy said softly.
"I know you are Alex, and I forgive you."
Now that all was almost right with his world again, Alexander laid his head on his father's shoulder and closed his eyes. He was asleep before they went through the front door.
Adam took Alexander upstairs and Thea followed with Annalise. They took the children to the room they would be sharing and Balor came in to settle himself on the floor near the window. They put both children on the bed and the little girl soon dropped off next to her sleeping brother. Their parents moved quietly around the room and spoke in hushed voices as they unpacked the children's bags.
The twins were still fast asleep as they carried the empty bags out and left the door ajar. Then they moved on to their room to unpack their own bags. By the time they finished it was almost six o'clock so they checked on the children and found them still deeply asleep.
"I don't think either one is going to be up again until morning," Thea whispered, so they quickly got them ready for bed and tucked them in.
Everyone was a little subdued at dinner that night; they were all tired from the traveling.
Thea helped Hop Sing with the clearing up while Adam went upstairs to look in on the twins. He stood there for a while, watching his children sleep and found himself thinking about the attempted kidnappings again. Every time he did he was filled with such fury it was frightening. He had never seen himself as a truly violent man, but he knew in his heart he would kill to protect them without a second's hesitation.
He left the room quietly and went back downstairs. He sat next to Thea on the sofa again, but couldn't seem to follow any of the conversation. By the time he had caught himself almost falling asleep for the third time he gave up and tugged on her hand. She knew that meant it was time for bed, so the two of them said their good nights and slowly climbed the stairs and went to their room.
Piercing shrieks split the night in between flashes of lighting and rumbles of thunder; Ben jumped out of bed and rushed to open his bedroom door. He paused, hearing the shrieks coming toward him down the hall. A flash of lightning revealed two small white figures and one huge, dark shadow racing past his door.
The bright light had blinded him so he stayed where he was and closed his eyes to recover. He heard a door crash open then a series of thuds and a final shout. As he stepped out into the hallway he could see Joe and Hoss coming, each one carrying a lit lamp. They all converged on Adam and Thea's room.
When the lamplight fell on the bed they could just barely see Adam buried under two children and one extremely large dog.
"Get him off me!" Adam managed to say in a choked whisper, he couldn't move with his arms trapped under the covers. Hoss handed the lamp to his father and lifted the 140-pound dog off his brother. Adam sat up and the children threw themselves at him. He had an arm around each of them then noticed Thea was missing.
"Where's Thea?" he said looking around the room.
A hand appeared and waved at him over the other side of the bed.
"I'm here. Balor pushed me out," she chuckled.
Adam shifted Alexander out of his way then slid out of the bed on her side. She was still chuckling when her husband helped her to her feet. Rubbing the back of her head, she assured him she was fine, then burst into a full laugh when she looked across at Hoss, he was still struggling with the huge dog. Balor had all four legs wrapped around the man as he trembled and whimpered and refused to let go.
Joe was giggling helplessly and Ben couldn't hold back a smile as Adam came around to pry the dog off his brother and found himself in the same situation.
Thea had climbed back into the bed to calm her children and was now having a hard time containing her mirth at the sight of the huge animal stuck to her husband like a burr.
She directed the children's attention to the sight and when they forgot about the storm and started to laugh she got out of the bed and went to coax the dog to let go. She soon had Balor standing on his hind legs and Adam managed to unwrap the animal's front legs from around his neck.
The dog sat there huddled up against Thea as she knelt down, put her arms around him and began to whisper soothingly in his ear.
Joe and Hoss were laughing when Adam looked at his father "I swear to you Pa, we're not a family, we're a traveling circus."
"Do you want us to help get the children back to bed?" Ben asked with a wide smile.
Adam gave him a narrow look, "You're still enjoying this aren't you?"
His father nodded and started to chuckle.
"You won't think it's so funny when I finally lose my mind."
The three men just laughed harder so Adam started to herd them through the door, "Alright, show's over, everybody back to bed." Then he turned to the children, "You two stay there, I don't want any encores of tonight's performance."
His father and brothers managed to choke out a "Good night" as Adam shut the door behind them, and then turned to his family. The children had already fallen asleep and Thea was just climbing in on her side. Balor was lying on the floor next to his side.
He managed to get in without stepping on the dog and turned on his side to look at his wife and children. With a gentle hand he stroked Annalise's cheek and smoothed Alexander's unruly hair back from his forehead.
Thea grinned at him, "You realize that if we ARE a circus then that makes you the Ringmaster."
Adam laughed quietly, "I think I'd rather be the one that sticks his head in the lion's mouth, it would be less dangerous."