LOST AND FOUND - PART 6

GET TOGETHER

Chapter 55

That evening was the first time the entire local crowd of friends and family had managed to get together in months. Matt and Cassie had just come back a week before from his family home in Philadelphia where they had been married. Hoss and Dora were also present, having made up that afternoon, and the two newlywed couples were sitting on the sofa.

All four deputies were present, as was Barbara because her husband Sam was out of town again on official Post Office business. She was sitting on a love seat sandwiched in between Nate and Dylan who were making her laugh as they flirted with her outrageously. Roy and Ben were sitting in chairs next to each other and were conversing in low voices oblivious to what was going on around them. Alexander was in Roy's lap, while Annalise was in Ben's. Surprisingly, the children were being quiet, listening to the conversation going on over their heads.

Thea was sitting cross-legged in a wingback chair with Benjamin in her lap, and Joe was sitting on a hassock in front of her. Her youngest brother-in- law was telling her stories from his childhood, making her laugh at his memories of driving her husband insane. While they talked Thea kept touching Benjamin, tickling his foot, or stroking his cheek, or rubbing his belly. The baby was silent, enjoying having his mother to himself and stared up at her in rapt fascination.

His brother Thomas, however, was busy playing with his new uncle. Ted sat on the floor and was patiently building tall spires of wooden blocks for Thomas to knock down. The ten-month-old would chortle with glee when the blocks scattered across the floor then would sit there patiently waiting for Ted to build them up again. Neither one looked like they would be tired of the game anytime soon.

Adam was sitting on the floor in front of Marie while Matthew was climbing all over him. The two were discussing the trip to visit family Marie would be embarking on the next afternoon. Adam was managing to keep his son from falling on his head, but still kept up the conversation.

Jon and Mike were near Thea's chair and also sitting on the floor. They were eavesdropping on Joe's stories and trying to not look obvious, but their muffled laughter gave them away.

Everything ground to a halt when Annalise startled everyone by letting out a piercing shriek. The little girl slid out of her Grandfather's lap and ran up to Dora, her expression wild with excitement.

"You're gonna have a baby?" she practically shouted up at her new aunt. Dora gasped, turned beet red, and buried her face in her husband's shoulder as everyone else except Annalise burst out laughing. Hoss was laughing so hard he couldn't get a word out.

The little girl was practically dancing with impatience for an answer when she heard her father calling her name. Realizing she had committed a serious infraction of the rules she reluctantly turned and went to him with her head hanging. But when she reached her father who was now standing, and risked a quick peek at his face, she saw he was smiling.

Adam picked her up and looked at Hoss who was still chuckling, but nodded his head.

"Alright everyone, yes it's true. Hoss and Dora are expecting their first child in February," he said. Dora had to hide her face again as whistles, congratulations, and cheers filled the room. Then he leaned his head down to whisper "Calm down now," to his daughter who had started to squirm around in his arms, she was so excited.

When the room was reasonably quiet again he made sure he had a tight grip on his daughter as he continued. "But that's not all folks, Thea and I will be increasing our family by one in January." Mayhem then ensued.

Joe laughed so hard he weakly tipped over and fell to the floor on his side. Barbara leapt to her feet with a stifled gasp of disbelief and rushed across the room to hug Thea. Marie was right behind her. Cassie actually started crying tears of joy for her friend and her new husband couldn't help but laugh even as he held her close to comfort her while she sobbed.

The deputies stared at each other in consternation for a few moments. Then almost as one they stood and hurried up to clap their boss on the back and laugh in his face. If he hadn't been holding his daughter they would have tortured him further with a few risqué comments as well.

The newest member of the family, Ted, was sitting there looking stunned as Thomas climbed into his lap. The child looked around the room for a bit, his dark green eyes shining as he took in the celebration going on all around him. He started to laugh himself, then bellowed out "Pa!" over and over again as he vigorously clapped his little hands.

Ted broke out into huge gales of laughter and began to applaud too. Soon everyone was clapping and the noise level became almost deafening. Adam just shook his head, then smiled at Annalise as he leaned his head down to whisper in her ear.

"Why don't we both keep our fingers crossed that this baby will be a girl?" She stopped clapping and grinned up at him, her emerald eyes gleaming with delight as she nodded.

"But we have to keep that our secret, no one else can know or it might not come true. OK?" he continued and she giggled as she held up one small hand and said, "Pinky swear?"

Adam chuckled as he reached to link fingers with his daughter.

"Pinky swear," he said solemnly then kissed her on the forehead before setting her down. She immediately rushed across the room to her mother.

The noise soon died down but the excitement level still remained high as Adam motioned for Nate to come with him to help break out the champagne. Hopefully this time people would end up drinking the fine wine instead of wearing it.

A few hours later the party started to break up and people scattered. Nate and Dylan left to escort Barbara home while Mike, Jon, and Joe went across the street to the Sage Brush. Marie hurried upstairs to finish packing and didn't notice Adam watching her go up the stairs. Hoss and Dora took the five children up next. The couple had volunteered to put them to bed, no doubt thinking they could use the practice. Roy had left about an hour before and Ben had chosen to go up to his room then.

Thea saw Matt and Cassie out and after watching them walk up the street until she couldn't see them anymore, she took advantage of the warm evening to sit on the swing and relax. She had just started swinging when the screen door opened and Ted came out.

"Would you rather be alone?" he said and she could see the faint gleam of his white teeth as he smiled.

Thea patted the swing and waved him over saying, "No, not at all. It's just so beautiful out tonight I didn't want to go back in yet."

As she watched him come out the door and move across the porch toward her almost silently she was struck by the similarities between her brother and her husband. Both were large men, but moved with masculine grace and control. Ted was about a half-an-inch taller than Adam, but her husband's commanding presence always made him seem to be the tallest man in the room. They were highly intelligent, witty, compassionate, and unafraid to show affection. She smiled as Ted sat next to her and without thinking about it they pushed off in unison.

Ted stretched his long arms out on top of the back of the swing so his sister scooted a little closer and laid her head on his shoulder. They swung in silence for a while until Thea spoke.

"What are your plans now? I mean I don't know all that much about you yet. Have you even thought what you would do once you fulfilled your promise to Lilly?"

"Well, yes I did, but now I can see I'll have to rethink everythin'."

"Why?"

He chuckled, "Theadora, I had absolutely no idea this family would welcome me with open arms the way you all have. I had decided to practice part time in San Francisco while devotin' the rest of my time to seekin' out new treatments, experimentin', and writin'."

"Writing more articles?"

"Yes ma'am, but mostly keepin' in touch with doctors in Europe who are way ahead of us in understandin' the human brain. I want to test some of my own theories and eventually write a book about my findins."

"So you'll be moving to San Francisco then?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. There is no way under the sun that I am goin' to move away from this family. You all are stuck with me now."

Thea chuckled and Ted could feel the tension leave her shoulders. He smiled.

"Besides, I looked around that room tonight and realized I could not ask for better subjects to observe. Especially that husband of yours - that man's mind is fascinatin'. And not only that, where else would I be able to find a set of twins and a set of triplets in one family? I'm looking forward to watchin' them develop."

"Ted, you're not talking about studying my children are you?"

"Oh no! Not studyin', just watchin' and observin'. But Adam's brain is the one I want to dig into, figuratively speakin'. And frankly I think he's already buildin' up a stock of questions he wants to ask me. He's been through so much and his experiences have been pretty damn unique. So I'm hopin' I'll be able to help him get a handle on some of them, to answer some of the 'whys?' The 'whys' are always the worst Theadora. They're just like havin' a burr under your saddle blanket."

"Oh, so that's what's been going on in the back of his mind today. You and his worry over Marie."

"Marie? Why is he worried about her, is she in trouble or ill? I'd hate to see anthin' happen to that sweet lady."

Thea sighed deeply. "She's leaving tomorrow to visit family in California and Adam is just not happy about her going. I figured out recently that he doesn't like it when any of us are beyond his reach."

"Does he give any reason why he feels that way?"

"No, he hasn't actually said anything, but I know Adam better than anyone and I can tell."

"He worries a lot, doesn't he?"

"Constantly," she answered and sighed again. "I think he probably started worrying the day he was born and hasn't stopped since."

He chuckled quietly at her outrageous overstatement and tightened his hold on her shoulders.

"I don't mean to deliberately change the subject, but I have a question for you. Why did everyone react with disbelief to Adam announcin' you're expectin' an addition to the family? There has to be somethin' I don't know."

"Dear Lord, this is embarrassing."

Ted chuckled again, "Now you HAVE to tell me." She shook her head, but began to explain.

"I guess you could say it all started when I died..." he interrupted her with a startled, "What!"

She quickly continued, telling him everything about that miraculous night when the triplets entered the world. "So this is all my fault. I don't know if I really just misunderstood Matt, or if I did that deliberately. I don't know for sure, but I do know the fault is mine."

"So you're sayin' that you and you alone are responsible for this child's creation? Am I hearin' you correctly?"

"Heaven help me, you're saying the same thing Adam said."

"Really? Then he must be as smart as I think he is." His white teeth flashed in the dim light again as he grinned down at her.

"You're teasing me aren't you?"

"Uh huh."

"Finally I have a sibling to tease me! I was so happy when Joe found Adam because I suddenly had two brothers to torment. But I think they may be a little intimidated by me - they hardly ever tease me back."

"Don't worry about that with me. I'm not intimidated by you even the littlest bit."

"Oh good!" she chortled.

"Just remember that havin' a siblin' is new to me too, unlike Hoss and Joe. And it seems to me they know everythin' there is to know about drivin' your husband to distraction."

Thea laughed fully this time. "I wish you could have been sitting closer this evening. You just would not believe the things Joe put him through when he was a child. Adam spent a lot of time taking care of his brothers."

"Ah...so the pattern started that early," Ted said almost to himself and had started thinking about it when she poked him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Oh no you don't, Adam just disappears during conversations and you're not allowed to."

"Yes ma'am," he answered in mock humility and they laughed together. Then they both turned when Adam came out the front door. He came across the porch toward them then stopped opposite the swing to half sit on the porch railing.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Both Thea and Ted shook their heads and Adam smiled.

"Do you folks get together like that often?" Ted asked and his brother-in- law nodded.

"As often as we can." He paused and Ted could just see him frown in the indirect moonlight. "It gets harder each time with people getting married. And for some reason I've had a feeling all evening that this was the last time everyone will be together."

"Don't know why, huh?" Ted asked, wishing he could see Adam's face clearly.

"Nope, no idea - I just do."

"You get feelin's like that often don't you? Like somethin's goin' to happen?"

Adam shrugged then changed the subject. "Where is Stu? Did he take off already?" he asked his wife and she sat up.

"He left early this morning. He didn't say why, but I got the impression he had another job."

"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to him. And I'm sure you're sorry you didn't get to stuff him full of food for a few days."

Thea laughed, "That boy needs someone to take care of him," she said and the picture of what she had seen early that morning came to mind.

"He seems extremely shy and quiet to be a hired gun," Ted mused.

"Believe me, he's the best," Adam answered Ted, and they all looked toward the front door when they heard scratching. He quickly went to let Fred out.

The little dog rushed across the porch, jumped up into Ted's lap then climbed up to his shoulder. He sat there panting, his long pink tongue lolling out, his mouth stretched in a wide grin.

"Where the hell did you find that thing?" Adam couldn't help laughing at the small creature's expression.

"Well, I found Fred during my travels. In fact, someone was usin' him for target practice."

Thea gasped, "No, who would do something that cruel?"

"This man wasn't particularly bright and was truly surprised when I went after him." He paused to chuckle, "I still wonder sometimes how long it took him to remove that gun."

Adam burst out laughing as Thea looked at him with her mouth open for a few seconds. When he grinned at her, she started laughing too.

"They think I'm jokin' Fred." The dog let out a sharp yap, as though agreeing with his master.

"Did you really?" Thea asked, not knowing if she should believe him.

"Let me put it this way," Ted laughed, "if there is one thing that will set me off its cruelty to anyone or anythin'. And believe me when my fuse gets lit, you all don't want to be around." He reached up to scratch Fred under the chin and the little dog sighed.

"Those Pennsylvania boys may not have been very intelligent," he continued, "but they sure as hell taught me how to fight."

"Really?" Adam said and Thea could hear the deep interest in his tone.

"Oh no! Don't you start, I don't want you talking Ted into fighting you."

"Why not?" They could both see Adam's white teeth gleaming in the moonlight as he smiled a sharp smile.

"You haven't fought anyone for a long time and you might hurt him," she answered with some heat.

"Theadora..." he started to argue with her.

"NO! I won't have it Adam Cartwright. You almost hurt Hoss, and you'd already battered your four deputies around first!" Ted opened his mouth to protest too when she turned to him.

"Don't you start either," she said to her brother firmly. "I don't often put my foot down about anything, but I am NOT going to budge on this one."

Adam was desperately trying to not laugh when she turned back to him.

"If you two sneak around behind my back and fight believe me you will be very, very sorry." She stood, stomped over to the door, and pulled it open. "I mean it, damn it! Don't you dare!" she practically shouted at them then went inside, slamming the door shut behind her.

Ted was looking at his new brother-in-law and realized the moonlight was shining directly on them and he could see the man's face clearly. He expected him to be angry and was surprised when Adam lost the struggle and had to let his laughter out. He smiled and just waited for the other man to get himself under control.

"Oh God," Adam gasped, "that woman is so damned funny!"

"But she was absolutely furious!"

"Ah, she always gets like that when she's pregnant - hot tempered and mean. Even more than usual."

"And you're not angry?"

"Hell no! That's one of the things I admire about her the most," he paused to laugh one more time then took a deep breath. "I told my cousin Will once that Thea doesn't take any crap off of anyone, except me, and he would do well to remember that. Of course that was AFTER she smacked him in the back of the head so hard she drew blood."

"She did!"

"Oh yes. But Thea knows I will do as I see fit, no matter what she says. That's why she shouted."

"So she never tries to get her way by placating you?"

"Placate me?" Adam shook his head and chuckled. "Never. You've got a lot to learn about your sister Ted, that's just not Thea's style at all. She's a fighter and that's how she managed to survive when she was attacked some months ago."

Ted plucked Fred off his shoulder, sat up, and set the dog down under the swing as he leaned forward, his eyes wide with anger. "Tell me."

Adam sighed deeply then plunged into the story, including his attack on Mueller, his own arrest, the aborted lynching, and Thea's ultimate recovery.

When he finished, his new brother-in-law was sitting back in the swing again, his expression thoughtful. "When you're right, you're right. I DO have a lot to learn about Theadora." He looked up to meet the other man's gaze. "I have a lot to learn about you, too."

Tipping his head slightly to the side, Adam's eyes suddenly became intense and briefly flared with something like cold fire as he looked deeply into Ted's eyes in the moonlight. That look was calculating, remote, and unnerving. Just as the younger man had to suppress the urge to shiver, the look was gone and he was back to normal.

"I guess you do," Adam said quietly then nodded as though making up his mind about something. "Alright, I know you've been waiting for this so let's get started. I have a question for you and I've only ever discussed this with one other person - my brother Hoss. But you also need to understand what the situation was with my family before I left for the last time." He paused as though taking the time to choose his words carefully.

"He may not seem like it now, but my father has always had a very forceful personality, and he attempted to rule the three of us with an iron fist. Of course if you had known us back then you would have understood why." Ted smiled at the idea of anyone trying to rule this man, father or not.

"But I have to admit I always felt torn - torn between loyalty to my father and wanting more than just working the ranch. I managed to escape for a while when I went to college, and I came back determined to settle down and always be there for him." He chuckled and shook his head as he stood and turned to look up at the moon.

"I'm sure you've figured out by now that things just didn't turn out that way. The longer I stayed the more resentful I became. And so now we come to the question." He turned around again and came to sit next to Ted on the swing.

"In your professional opinion doctor, do you think I lost my memory on purpose?"

"No."

Adam waited, expecting the other man to continue and when the silence stretched on he began to smile and then bit back a chuckle.

"Care to explain why?"

Ted shifted on the swing and brought one bent leg up until he was almost facing the other man.

"Adam...what those two men did to you was so horrific, so incredibly awful that your mind HAD to do somethin' to protect itself. So those memories had to be put away, under lock and key, until you were ready - physically, emotionally, and mentally ready. If not, you would have gone insane. I have no doubt about that."

The other man turned further toward him and thought that over for a while. "I think you're right."

"Yes I am, and of course you had already come to that same conclusion yourself."

Adam nodded. "We seem to agree on that point, so let me ask you another question."

"Don't bother, I know what it is. And again my answer is no, you didn't deliberately NOT remember. You would have remembered eventually, and for one main reason. Children."

"Now, you're going to have to explain that one to me."

"Think about it. What do we ultimately have to pass on to our children, besides tangible things? The intangible things - family, tradition, a sense of who they are and where they came from. This is a basic human need we all have, no matter what culture or time we live in. How could you pass those things on to your children when you didn't know who YOU are?"

The other man's brows rose as he considered this point, then his eyes narrowed as he thought about it more deeply.

Ted laughed. "Here, I'll prove it to you. After the twins were born did you start to have more trouble sleepin'?

"Yes I did."

"Did you frequently wake up knowin' that your dreams were disturbin', but couldn't remember them or why you felt that way?"

Adam nodded still thinking.

"And did they increase as the twins became older, started walkin' and talkin'? When they became small people?"

Smiling now, the other man nodded again.

"You see? You would have remembered eventually, Joe findin' you just pushed you into it head first, no pun intended." Ted reached out to put a hand on Adam's shoulder. "Now if you hadn't cared about your children, that wouldn't have happened. But you do, your children mean everythin' to you and no matter how painful it was you were already draggin' those memories into the light. You had to...for them."

Ted fell silent then, letting Adam consider his words for a while. He watched carefully, gauging the other man's thoughts by his expression. He was delighted when the older man sighed deeply, relaxed, and leaned back in the swing.

"You're right and I thank you," Adam said quietly and Ted chuckled softly.

"You are more than welcome, and of course I'm right, I'm always right." He grinned his quirky grin when Adam quickly turned his head to look at him.

"Something tells me Thea has been filling you in about me."

"Uh huh."

Adam smiled that special smile he always did when talking or thinking about his wife. His brother-in-law was delighted again to see it.

"You really do love her that much, don't you?" he asked

"It's more than that Ted. Thea is the best thing that ever happened to me, or ever will. I owe everything to her - my life, my sanity, my children, everything."

The younger man sighed, "Hope I find someone like that some day."

"You will Ted, you will. I told Hoss the same thing and he didn't believe me. But he does now."

"He's a very lucky man, Dora is a lovely woman in every way."

Adam started laughing. "You may not believe this, but she took one look at him and he might as well have been tagged and bagged. He never stood a chance of getting away, and it's to his credit that he was smart enough to not try."

"Hmmm...I have a feelin' that Hoss is a lot smarter than most people give him credit for," Ted said as he stood and stretched. "I think it's time for me to head on in. You comin'?" he asked and Adam shook his head.

"No, you go ahead. I'm still wide awake so I might as well take advantage of the peace and quiet to do some more thinking."

"You don't get very much peace and quiet, do you?"

"No," Adam answered him with laughter in his voice.

"Good night then," Ted said as he walked over to the door and opened it.

"Good night," the other man responded and Ted paused to look back. Adam had stretched his legs out and folded his arms as he leaned back in the swing, making a long, lean silhouette in the moonlight. He was about to call Fred when he saw a small, black shadow scamper up the other man's legs then climb up onto his shoulder.

"Hello Fred," Adam said softly. "You know, you still haven't convinced me you're really a dog." Ted smiled and resisted the urge to laugh as he silently went inside, carefully shut the door, and went upstairs to bed.