LOST AND FOUND - PART 6

ASSUMPTIONS

Chapter 54

Adam never did get a chance to have a private chat with Stu that day; the evening went by too quickly.

Ben, on the other hand, did manage to have a little chat with Thea when he followed her up to the nursery when she went to check on the babies.

She was just leaning over Thomas and covering him with his blanket when Ben quietly came into the room.

Thea turned her head toward him and smiled a welcome. Then she took him by the hand and led him over to the rocking chairs. After arranging two of them so they faced each other they both sat down and leaned forward to converse in low voices. Ben got right to the point.

"You were right."

"So Adam finally got a chance to talk to you?"

"Oh yes."

"I hoped he would. That's partly why I sent Joe off with Ted, to give you two a little privacy."

"I thought you might have. You do a lot of 'arranging' things for Adam don't you?"

She nodded with a grin, "Yes sir! That's my job as second in command." They laughed quietly together for a moment.

"It's funny," Thea said, "when anyone asks Adam anything about running the house and taking care of this family he always says he just lives here and they need to speak to management."

Ben nodded, "He's told me that too."

"I think it's one of his favorite jokes." She shook her head, "Now as for Adam and the ranch you just watch. He will continue to liquidate assets in one way or another. Either by selling outright or offering partners the chance to buy him out." She paused for a moment to think. "I only know of one business I'm sure he will keep and the only silent partnerships he will continue with are the annex, the hotel, and the club."

"Does he have that many partnerships, then?"

"Oh my yes, and after he's finished selling he'll have more money than even he will know what to do with."

"And then he will be free to concentrate on the regional office and the ranch," Ben wasn't asking, he was just stating a fact. Thea nodded as they smiled very pleased smiles.

"Just remember, Pa, I NEVER try to tell Adam what to do. But being the intelligent man he is he listens to my opinion and takes it seriously."

"So this is what you want too?"

"Of course! This arrangement will keep him happy because he won't be bored, while at the same time alleviating some of the guilt I know he felt by forgetting his obligations to you and Hoss and Joe. But you can be sure of one thing - he would have done this no matter what anyone else said. He is doing this for his children. Wealth is one thing that will be handed down to them, but their true heritage is the land. And you know exactly what I mean."

"Yes, yes I do. And I was hoping my eldest son would completely understand what it meant someday. And it looks like that day is finally here."

Thea nodded, smiling her widest smile, her eyes shining in the dim light. Then she laughed softly.

"What?" Ben asked, grinning in response to her laugh.

"Have you ever played chess against yourself?"

"No, I can't say that I have."

"Well, I haven't either, I doubt I could. But I bet Adam can. He's been doing something very much like that with money for years now. You see he administers my inheritance most of which is in trust for the children. So of course he administers his own funds and I've known for some time that he wants to catch up to mine. But since he does both..." She paused as Ben started laughing and said, "But he can't catch up with himself!"

Her shoulders were shaking and she had one hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter.

"I swear Pa, some day it will drive him stark, staring mad!"

They laughed quietly together again then Thea said, "I'm hoping this wholesale liquidation will do the trick. It's the only possible solution to his problem." Still laughing softly they stood and went into the hall.

She pulled the door only halfway shut and started down the hallway, but Ben stopped her by placing a hand on her arm.

"Adam said you have been ill lately. Do you know what's wrong?"

"No, I can't seem to figure it out because it seems like...but no, it can't be that. Anyway, I made an appointment to see Matt tomorrow morning. Maybe we can figure it out together." She smiled up into his concerned face.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she said and took his hand again to lead him down the hall and back down the stairs to the brightly lit kitchen noisy with family and friends.

Everyone went to bed much later than was their usual habit, and as had been happening for a couple of weeks now Thea woke up around four o'clock. The choking nausea rose up in her throat and seemed to cut her breathing off, bringing her abruptly awake and sitting up.

Once she was sure she could breathe again she carefully slipped out of bed, praying she wouldn't wake Adam. She had been trying to be quiet, but his hearing was just as acute as her own. However, this morning she was lucky and he stayed asleep.

Smiling with relief, she slipped into her robe and moved almost silently toward the door. She had just turned the knob and opened it a crack when the darkness of the hallway suddenly lightened. Peering through the crack she saw Stu's door open and her jaw dropped when Marie came out.

She stood there stunned, watching as Marie turned, put her arms around Stu, and hugged him tightly. Then she stretched up on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss on the lips. The two spoke low to each other and the only words she was certain she heard were, "love you".

Marie moved away and turned toward her rooms in the other hallway and as she passed by Thea held her breath, hoping the woman wouldn't notice. Marie didn't and Thea relaxed, waiting a few more moments before stepping out into the hallway and making her way down to the kitchen where she could pace without bothering anyone.

Since she had started experiencing this nausea she would usually take this time to go over what needed do be done during the coming day, but this time she couldn't think of anything else but Marie and Stu.

By the time the sun had risen and she heard Adam starting to move around upstairs she was only sure about one thing. She would not tell her husband what she had seen because it qualified as an invasion of privacy. What she had seen had been by accident and it was really nobody's business - nobody's business at all.

Having made her decision she hurried upstairs to get dressed and to get the day started.

When she went into the bedroom Adam turned toward her as he was shrugging into a red shirt, her favorite color for him to wear. Before he could start buttoning it she hurried forward to run her hands over his chest. Then she slipped her hands around him and rubbed his back under the shirt.

He chuckled as he wrapped one hand in her hair and pulled to tip her head back. Slipping his free arm around her waist he slanted his mouth over hers, nudging her mouth open with his tongue. She sighed with pleasure as the kiss deepened and she slipped her hands down the back of his trousers. Adam jerked in surprise, then stepped back to laugh and to pull her hands out of his pants.

"Now stop that! You behave yourself woman."

Thea stuck out her lower lip in an outrageous pout, making him laugh again.

"That doesn't work for Annalise and it's not going to work for you either, young lady. You know I have to go."

"Oh well, can't blame a girl for trying," she said and gave him a cheeky grin.

He gave her a skeptical look then turned away to finish buttoning his shirt then tucked it in. Just as he was gathering up his hat and vest she slid her arms around his waist then pressed up against him from behind. He started laughing again as he grabbed her wrists to keep her hands from getting into more mischief.

"What is with you this morning?" he asked as he turned back around and took her by the shoulders to push her back up against the bed and then pushed her down until she sat.

"Sit!" he said and started backing away toward the door. "Stay!" he said when she shifted on the bed to turn toward him. When he was at the door he reached back to turn the knob, opened it and started to back through. Just before he pulled the door shut he poked his head back in to say, "Good girl!" and then was gone.

Thea fell back on the bed giggling helplessly as she listened to him hurry down the stairs and out the back door, as though she was right behind him. When she could breathe again, she weakly sat up then stood to get dressed as quickly as she could. She was already hearing sounds from the children's rooms and knew she didn't have a chance in heaven of them ever being patient.

"Thank God for Marie," she said softly to herself and hurried faster, but still smiled a knowing smile. She was aware of what her husband would be frequently thinking about today.

About midmorning the door to the office Thea shared with Matt opened and she stepped out then slowly pulled the door closed behind her. A fitful ray of sun managed to break through the overcast sky and shone on the buggy she had taken this morning, intending to do some house calls after her appointment with Matt.

She stood there for a few moments then suddenly ran to the buggy, pulled herself up into the driver's seat, and took off heading out of town.

Her thoughts kept spinning around in her head and she couldn't seem to get a firm grip on any of them. When she reached the ranch house, she pulled the horse up abruptly and jumped to the ground as Ben opened the front door. She ran across the yard, threw herself into his arms, and just stood there, her entire body shaking violently.

Ben tightened his hold on her. "Good God Thea, what is wrong?"

She raised her head to look at him with tear-filled eyes and gasped out, "I'm a dead woman Pa," then buried her face in his chest again.

Her father-in-law slipped an arm around her shoulders and gently prodded her through the door. Once they were inside, he led her to a chair then pushed her down into it. Then he sat down on the low table in front of her and took both her hands in his own.

"Now," he said quietly, "what is this about?"

"Pa, I am a dead woman and your son is the one who's going to kill me." She tightened her grip on his hands as she started shaking again and hung her head.

"Thea, there is nothing that you could possibly do that would make Adam do such a thing."

She looked up to meet his concerned eyes. "I'm...oh God I can't say it."

"You're what? Are you ill? What is it?" Ben was starting to feel real fear for her until two words burst from her tight throat.

"I'm pregnant."

His eyes opened wide in shock. "Theadora, how can this be, I thought..."

I know," she interrupted him. "I thought that too, but seemingly I didn't understand what Matt was telling me after the triplets came." She shook her head as she raised one hand to wipe away a tear.

"Adam is NEVER going to believe that was just a mistake. He's going to think I did this on purpose."

"I take it then that Adam doesn't want anymore children?"

"Of course not, you've heard the things he's said." Another tear rolled down her cheek. "He's never going to forgive me for this," she said in a small voice and looked down again.

"Thea, I think you're over-reacting. Adam wouldn't..." he paused when he heard voices and looked up to see Dora and Hoss coming down the hall toward the stairs. They both stopped when they took in the scene below.

Thea, facing the other way, also looked up and gasped when she saw Adam pulling his horse up next to the buggy. Even from inside and through the window she could see his furious expression. At her gasp, Ben had turned his head to look too.

"I drove out here alone," she said in a horrified voice. "Now he really IS going to kill me."

Both of them stood and Thea stayed behind Ben as Adam strode through the front door. He must have seen her hiding behind his father through the window because he walked up to the older man and firmly said, "Pa, step aside."

Ben instinctively started to, but then briefly hesitated. Adam tipped his head slightly sideways and gave his father a chiding look.

"Pa...step aside," he repeated and his father did. Then he looked at his wife with narrowed eyes.

"Theadora, stop that shaking - it's insulting. You KNOW I would never hurt you." He paused to let out an exasperated sigh. "Come here," he said and when she did he took her hand to pull her across the room and out the front door. She turned her head back as they went through to give Ben one last despairing glance then her husband closed the door.

Adam pulled her across the yard, through the barn door, then into an empty stall. He indicated for her to sit down on a hay bale then hauled another over to sit in front of her. She waited for him to speak first as he continued to stare at her with angry eyes and a clenched jaw.

"What happened?" he finally said in a voice deepened by his anger. "I want you to tell me what happened and why you broke your promise."

She met his gaze and when he saw her anguished eyes his angry expression lessened greatly.

"Theadora, what is it?" he demanded as she continued to stare at him mutely.

"Adam, I'm pregnant," she managed to force the words out as she hung her head and braced herself for his reaction. The seconds ticked by and she almost started to relax when he spoke.

"Alright, NOW I want you to explain to me how that is possible."

"I misunderstood what Matt told me after the triplets came. I thought he said he HAD done a hysterectomy, but he hadn't. He said he chose to repair the damage so I wouldn't suffer any more blood loss." She looked up and sighed as she closed her eyes, "I am so sorry, this is all my fault."

"Sure it is. You did this all on your own," he said dubiously. Then he reached out to take her hands and tugged on them so she would look at him. When she opened her eyes she couldn't believe that the corners of his mouth were actually turned up a little.

"Theadora, if that were true you really would need to be written up in the medical journals. It takes two people, remember?" Shaking his head he said, "Besides, I should have discussed it with him myself, you weren't exactly coherent at the time."

"You weren't either."

"I know, but I still should have talked to him about it. At least I can understand now why you drove out here by yourself."

"I thought you were going to kill me."

"Why?"

She stared at him in surprise, "Because you don't want any more children."

"I don't? Now when did you ever hear those words coming out of my mouth?"

Thea started to answer and then realized she couldn't.

"You never heard me say that. You just assumed I didn't want any more children. Never assume something about me again Thea. In fact it's a good idea to never assume anything." She nodded and started to relax.

"And another thing. You didn't drive out here alone because you thought I was going to kill you."

"Yes I did, I was terrified!"

"I'm sure you were, but not for that reason." Tightening his hold on her hands he gently continued, "Thea, your last pregnancy temporarily ended in death. If that's not a good reason to run off in a blind panic, I don't know what is."

Her eyes blinked rapidly as she took that thought in then her mouth dropped open when she realized he was right.

Adam sighed deeply and his expression showed he was preparing himself for the worst when he said, "So, do you know how many it's going to be this time?"

She was still staring at him in surprise as she lifted a hand up with only one finger raised.

"ONE? Are you sure?" She nodded and started to smile in relief.

"I only have one more question. What does this mean for you?" She didn't understand what he was asking.

"Theadora," he said in response to her puzzled look, "is your life going to be in danger again?"

"Oh no, no. Everything feels normal and Matt isn't any more concerned than he would be with any pregnancy."

Adam gave her one more narrow look, then sighed. "Thank God it's not quadruplets this time, that's what I would have expected."

Thea laughed, "Mathematical progression?"

He nodded as he stood and tugged on her hands so she would too. Taking her into his arms he said, "Are you SURE it's only one?"

She nodded her head against his chest and he chuckled. "So what's one more? There's not a big difference between having five and having six children. But this is it, I don't want your life being put in danger again."

"I know, and I AM sorry."

"Just remember this isn't all your fault. Hopefully Annalise will finally get the sister she's always wanted. I feel sorry for the poor kid having nothing but brothers." He put one arm around her shoulders and they started out of the stall, walking slowly.

"I hope so too, but we won't know until January."

"Ah, and Dora is due in what, February?"

"Yes she..." Thea started to agree, but stopped and gave him a resigned look. "How did you know?"

"Pa and I noticed the same signs."

"Pa knows too!"

"Yep."

"You didn't tell Hoss did you?"

"Nope, but Dora needs to and soon. I know you're both trying to avoid telling Hoss until you have to, but he has a right to know."

"I know, but he's going to drive her crazy by hovering over her constantly."

"Well, all I can do is have a talk with him myself, but I doubt it will make any difference."

"Thank you, I guess it can't hurt for you to try."

They had reached the front door and Adam looked down into her face with a smile as he turned the knob and pushed the door open. Thea went in first and he followed, only pausing to shut the door.

Pa, Hoss, and Dora were all standing in a group near the desk when Dora hurried up to take Thea by the shoulders. "Is it true?" she said her face flushed with excitement. When her cousin nodded she let out a shriek that startled everyone then threw her arms around Thea and almost lifted her off the floor.

"When?" she asked as she pulled back.

"January."

"Only one month before me!" Dora enthused and hugged her cousin again, but more gently this time. "That's not fair, you were supposed to be finished so we could catch up!"

Adam had turned to look at Hoss when Dora let her own news slip out. Hoss had been smiling, happy for his brother and sister-in-law, but when Dora's words sank in the smile was wiped off his face and his expression tightened. This was not the reaction Adam had expected - he was surprised that his younger brother was angry. He quickly moved forward to draw Thea away from her cousin as Hoss walked up behind his wife.

Dora's expression turned puzzled when Adam pulled Thea back until Hoss tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around and saw his face she instinctively took a step back and clapped a hand over her mouth.

"How long?" he asked her then his mouth clamped shut and his jaw muscles stood out as he clenched his teeth.

"Not until February," Dora answered quickly.

"No, that's not what I'm askin'. How long have you known," he said through clenched teeth as Dora stared back at him, horrified.

"Um...only a month or two."

Hoss's face turned red. "ONLY a month or two," he echoed his wife's words then closed his eyes. When he opened them Thea was shocked to see how they had darkened with his anger. She started to take a step forward to tell him it was all her fault when Adam quickly pulled her back against him with an arm around her waist then put a hand over her mouth.

"Stay out of it," he whispered in her ear and when he looked up Hoss turned his head to meet his older brother's gaze. They stared at each other for a few seconds then the big man abruptly turned around and strode out the front door, slamming it shut behind him.

"Where is he going?" Dora almost wailed deeply shaken by this turn of events.

"Probably to the barn to take some of my advice," Adam answered her as he took his hand away from Thea's mouth.

Dora hurried over to the window in time to see Hoss going into the barn. She turned back to look at Ben who gave her a sympathetic smile even as he shook his head at her. Turning again, she continued to watch out the window until she saw Hoss come back out and head for the house. Then she hurried over to stand directly in line with the front door, but several yards back.

Hoss seemed to have calmed down quite a bit, but they could all see he was still angry. He stopped right in front of her and as he pointed a finger in her face Adam could see his knuckles had taken a beating.

"Don't you ever keep somethin' like that from me again. No, don't ever keep anythin' from me again. No matter what it is, you hear?"

Dora nodded slowly never taking her eyes from his. "I'm sorry and I swear I won't ever keep anything from you again," she said quietly.

Her husband blinked, not expecting this calm, agreeable reaction from her and let his hand drop as she stepped forward, put her arms around him, and hugged him tightly. He sighed deeply as he gave his older brother a sideways look. Adam responded with raised eyebrows, a pleased smile, and a nod. Then Hoss wrapped his arms around Dora and squeezed her tightly.

Hearing someone clearing their throat, they all turned toward the desk where Ben was now sitting with his elbow propped on the desktop and his chin in his hand. He turned his bright black eyes back and forth between the two couples a few times. "Is the show over?" he said with a grin and joined in on the answering laughter.

He stood and came toward them, but stopped when both women rushed up to hug him at the same time. He staggered back a step, put an arm around the shoulders of each daughter-in-law then gave his two sons a knowing smile. "Congratulations boys," he said, "and good luck. I think you're both going to need it."

Adam looked at Hoss with one eyebrow raised and his half smile. "Are we going to let him get away with that?" he asked his brother who smiled and shook his head. So they both hurried toward their father as their wives quickly stepped back.

Hoss wrapped his father in a bear hug as Adam kept going, but was back in a few seconds with a bottle of champagne in his hands. He shook the bottle and popped the cork saying, "Stand back, brother!" Hoss stepped away just as the first spray of champagne doused his father from head to toe.

"Congratulations Grandpa!" Adam shouted and his father laughed as he wiped champagne off his face. Then he caught his eldest son by surprise by rushing forward, grabbing the bottle, and pouring some over Adam's head. He stepped back as the younger man started laughing helplessly.

"I think Hoss looks too dry," he said and Adam nodded as Ben put his thumb over the top of the bottle and shook it up again.

"Come here Hoss," he said with a wicked grin. "I'm sure you'll like this, it was an excellent year," he continued as he began to stalk his son around the room.

Hoss was breathless with laughter as he backed away. "Now Pa, take it easy," he said as he started to backup toward the front door. Unfortunately, he hadn't noticed Thea and Dora standing there. They each grabbed one of his arms and hid behind him as Ben shook the bottle up again and sprayed the big man all over.

The two women were leaning against Hoss weak with laughter when he abruptly turned around and picked both of them up, getting them soaked too. He was still standing there with the shrieking women in his arms when they heard a gasp.

They all turned and saw Hop Sing standing there with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open. He looked from person to person while slowly shaking his head. "Sometime I think I never understand you," he said and was still shaking his head as he backed away toward the kitchen.

The five of them exchanged embarrassed glances until Hoss sneezed and a fine spray of champagne came out his nose. That finished them off and no one was capable of speaking or even taking a deep breath for quite some time.