8: Home on the Range
The carriage was still a ways back to Virginia City, as the sky was darkening. Adam was cautiously looking up periodically at strange dark clouds which only consistently deepened as the ride continued.
"Hmm…I'm not certain I like the look of those clouds."
"Is it what I think it is?" Violet asked.
"It could very well be."
"What is it, Adam?" Mrs. Adams inquired.
"Judging from the looks of the clouds, we may be in for some rain, soon."
"Why, they formed so fast!"
"They usually do, Ma'am."
"What kind of rain?" William asked.
"It could be anything between a passing shower, or severe thunderstorm. It rains sparingly here, though the season is typically in the summer. The heavier rainfall is even rare for September, though anything is possible." A rumble of thunder was heard before Adam barely finished the last sentence. Sprinkling occurred and was soon followed by a steadier flow. "Looks like more than a passing shower, now. I'm beginning to suspect the worst."
No sooner had the sky seemingly opened, a steadier shower turned into a heavy downpour.
Mrs. Adams shrieked. "Dear me! I'm drenched!"
Mr. Adams closed his eyes. He spoke up. "How much further, Adam? We're still a long ways off from town, are we?"
"An hour and a half, Sir. Unfortunately, at the rate it's falling now, it may be best to return to the Ponderosa." Adam warned. "It gets much worse, believe it or not."
"What could be worse than a Thunderstorm?" William asked.
"A flash flood."
"And how soon does that occur?" Wendell asked.
"Within minutes of a downpour." Adam was wondering if he should turn around already. When he noticed a stream of water leaving the Washoe Lake area. "I'm afraid we don't have much choice now. It will be difficult to steer and maneuver on these muddy roads. Not to mention dangerous. We will have to go back."
"We don't wish to inconvenience your family, Adam."
"It's no trouble, Mr. Adams. There's plenty of room for all of you."
"But our clothes, our items!" Mrs. Adams exclaimed.
"My dear, we are all sopping wet. We may catch cold and fall ill from staying out any longer." Mr. Adams reasoned. "We will gladly accept your suggestion Adam."
"Very well, Mr. Adams." While he was partly pleased it meant someone would be with him longer, he was also partly anxious of the prospect of someone else being under the same roof (with yet one other he'd prefer to leave behind)… . However, his lady sticking close to him put away his concerns for the moment, as he resumed his efforts to commandeer the horses back in the opposite direction; the flow of water trailing behind like a wave.
Ben was stepping out onto the porch when the horses were galloping through.
"Adam, back so soon?" He half-teased, noting the rain.
"With the sudden storm, we weren't going to make it, Pa."
"Hoss, Joseph!" He called for his sons to get blankets. "Well, make yourselves comfortable. I imagine you all must be tired."
When everyone was settled in, the passengers were wrapped tightly while warming themselves by the fireplace.
"Adam, just how long would heavy rain last?" William was covering himself anyway he could.
"An hour or more… ."
"How soon would the roads be clear again?"
"Well it depends. With the heaviest storms, it sometimes takes several days…or at its worst, a couple months." He intentionally staggered his response.
"Days?! Months!"
"William, it's been quite a while since we've had that bad of a storm." He was secretly amused over William's apparent anxiety. "Besides, there's the back routes; toward Carson City to the South, or the Truckee River to the North. But they're both hours away and either direction would take longer to backtrack to Virginia City past the mountains."
"Hours away! What roads or lack thereof around here!"
"Try walking or running on foot through woods with no roadways, or shooting bullets and dodging them from the James River when you hardly know how to swim!" Wendell remarked.
"Well, Adam, I must commend you for remaining so calm in such a treacherous situation."
"Thank you Ma'am. I've seen these storms over the years. They're not so common, and are rare even for this time of year. We seem to manage just fine."
"I'm soaked." Mr. Adams mused.
"Dear, we could have been stranded or even killed out there had Adam not turned around."
"I know dear, and I'm grateful for that, but I am still soaked."
"Please pardon my husband. He is weary. He becomes quite cranky when he's tired."
"Well, in that case, we'll show you all to your rooms." Ben offered.
Before Mr. and Mrs. Adams were settling in for the night, Adam offered them clean robes. "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Adams, I certainly hope you have a pleasant stay. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Adam, these will do nicely." Mrs. Adams replied.
"I should forewarn you, we tend to wake up rather early. We'll be as quiet as possible not to disturb you, though you may sleep in as long as you like. A hearty breakfast begins around half past eight."
"How early would you say?" Mr. Adams inquired.
"Oh, about five, or five thirty, at the latest."
"Oh, that should be no trouble at all, Adam. I'm normally awake around that time, usually reading."
"Very well. Good night." Adam decidedly went back down the stairs.
"Well, Mr. Adam Cartwright appears to be a nice enough man for our daughter."
"My dear, I believe you've fallen for him faster than she has."
"He baffles you, doesn't he?"
"There's something about him, Mary. Admittedly, 'Cartwright' is not a name I hear much of back in Boston…and yet…Adam Stoddard Cartwright… . What is it about that name that suggests familiarity to me?"
"Well, John, you can ponder it all night, or you can rest and actually get to know the man tomorrow."
"That I will." He added. "I can honestly tell you, the craftsmanship on the property is the best I've seen in quite some time."
"Darling, are you in actual approval of Adam's work?"
"I must give credit where it is due." He merely replied.
"Hmm… it's quite odd you were unable to mention it while he was present."
"I wasn't sure what to make of it then. I've never seen anything like it before."
Meanwhile, Ben found Adam was on the settee, thinking.
"You're not tired, Adam? You've had quite a night already."
"I know, but I have a feeling it only just began. I'm trying to imagine how I'll sleep with Mr. Adams across the hall."
"Well, he did seem to like that room… ."
"Of course, after he found out where mine was and that his daughter would be further down the hall, near Wendell's. Had I arranged William any further away, he'd be in the bunkhouse!"
"You can't blame the man for being like most fathers."
Adam was about to respond when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Mr. Adams.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything. May I have a moment, Ben?"
"Certainly John."
Adam took this as his cue to leave. "Pardon me, Mr. Adams." He excused himself before going up the stairs.
Mr. Adams looked toward the stairs and sat down on the settee. "I imagine your son isn't too fond of my presence."
"He'll be fine. I imagine he's a little intimidated, which is a rare trait for him. I should hope that means he has a great deal of respect for you."
"Well, Ben. In my efforts on getting to know your son, I also wanted to get to know you. The man making his fortune out West."
"Oh, I don't have much of a story. I was just a mere sailor, traveling with my soon to be father in law, the Captain, and dreamed of moving West… ." Ben told him the story of leaving Boston after his wife's passing and traveling to the Midwest meeting his next wife, and eventually making his success after meeting his last wife.
"You've done well, Ben, and raised some fine young men."
"Thank you, John. It wasn't easy."
"If it's any consolation, you've done better than I would have. Raising my son was one thing, my daughter, another. I set boundaries with David early, and he heeded, mostly. When Violet came around, it was something of a miracle. When David was still young, My father left a great deal of debt that my brothers left to me, which I wasn't prepared to handle. We had to live quite frugally, as I was a young lawyer at the time without the experience I acquired through now. I also had my own issues… ." He went into more detail. "We wanted more children, but Mary had a few miscarriages, with the stress we had at the time. It took several years to reach stability, and then our daughter was born. I probably was easier on her, according to my son. So many times I would take her over my knee, only to change my mind when she'd look up at me, pouting, with tears in her violet eyes and her neat little curls on her head. Then David would go and complain to his mother how 'she gets away with everything'!"
"Sounds a lot like Adam's complaints about Hoss, and Hoss about Little Joe. About how old is your son?"
"He turned thirty-three this year. He still dotes on and looks after his sister every now and then. He makes his home outside of Philadelphia, with his wife and his three young children." He added. "I never seemed to worry about David. I hope for the best while he's at war, but growing up he wasn't one to stray or fall into mischief. With Violet I have always been concerned. She was always so fearless and determined; While she toddled around, she would climb every chair and table around the house; As a girl she would walk and read a book while crossing the street, and barely miss the carriages that fled past her; As a young person, she never hesitated to leap over new hurdles on her horse she hadn't done before; Now she is a young lady living across the country in an unfamiliar territory…and she's doing as well as I could hope."
"John, you should give yourself and Mary more credit for raising a strong, intelligent lady: She's an Adams after all." They both chuckled over that. "That's all understandable, John. My father in law, Adam's grandfather, was just as protective over Elizabeth. After losing his job, I wasn't sure he'd let me see his daughter again."
"Your father in law, the Captain?"
"Yes, Captain Abel Morgan Stoddard."
"Hmm…"
"Does that name sound familiar?"
"I have friends who are merchants whom he may have worked for…they might remember… ."
Meanwhile, upstairs, Violet was peering through a crack in her doorway. She had tried sneaking out before and ran into him!
"Looking for someone?"
"Oh, good evening, Will." She was trying to conceal being taken off-guard. "Still awake, I see."
"I am. Wendell is tuckered out. He wants to be well rested and hopes he can still catch the stage tomorrow."
"Very wise." She agreed.
"You're never this quiet. Is something bothering you?"
"No," she replied, not certain if she should answer honestly.
"You're not looking for 'him'?"
"No, actually."
"Good. I was hoping I would get to speak with you. We hardly spoke since I arrived." She could only nod. "I know now is not the time nor place, but there must be somewhere… ."
"Yes, there is… ." They agreed to a place the following afternoon. It would be quite a meeting for her… .
Later on, this time, seeing no one except her father descending the stairs, she tiptoed ever so slightly to her parents' room and knocked. "Mother?"
"What is it, dear?"
"I wish to speak with you."
"Come in." Her mother was sitting upright in bed. "I miss these times…being able to talk with my daughter." She patted the pillow beside her.
"As do I, mother." She began sitting down. "It's nice we can all be in the same house… ." She stopped short.
"Even while Will is here?"
"There you are, reading my mind again." She knew exactly why she stopped.
"I know it must be awkward."
"Well, yes." She admitted. "I want to speak with him. I just need to figure out a way to say what's on my mind."
"It'll come. Just start with the familiar first." Her mother straightened herself up. "Now, my question to you is what drew you to Adam compared to his brothers? Though I have my ideas... ."
"Well, I did have a brief interest in Joe, as we are the same age; but Adam, in spite of being quite serious, intrigued me as I came to know him. Not to mention I found myself drawn to his strength and self confidence. None of the men in Virginia City dare to challenge the Cartwrights, much less Adam."
"Adam appears to be quite a catch. He is fortunate to have you."
"That he is. I'll readily admit I'm quite the envy of the ladies in town. I never expected to meet anyone quite like him around these parts…he is nothing like the Westerners out here. I just hope father can see that. I know he's always thought highly of Will, and was quite disappointed when I told him the news about our broken engagement… ."
"Oh, my darling… ." She was now laying in her mother's lap, while her mother began stroking her hair. She was always consoled this way when she was younger and concerned about a matter. Her mother continued. "You know your father. He can be quite stubborn at times, and acts slowly toward newcomers, but I can assure you, as good a man as Will is, he's only good for you if you feel the same way. Your father is not a fool, and he'll see in time if he's not seeing it already…you are still of the utmost importance to him, to both of us."
She sat up to embrace her. "Thank you."
"Anytime, my daughter." She kissed her goodnight.
She pulled the door in ever so quietly. For a moment she stood there, noting laughter coming from down the stairs. Laughter?! A smile came to her face. Someone was getting along, it seemed. She was turning back toward the other end of the hall before facing… "Adam!" She gasped.
"I didn't scare you, did I?"
"No, it's just the last time I was out here I ran into…someone else. What are you doing?"
"Going to my room—well, eavesdropping, actually." He admitted. "Sorry, but it's not too often we hear women conversing in our house. It's a welcome change from shouting and slamming doors after a rough night out."
"How long were you out here?"
"Oh, just long enough to know how 'fortunate' I am." He smiled. "How are the accommodations?"
"Very good, and thank you for the robe. Will you miss it tonight?"
"Nah, it looks better on you," he winked.
Footsteps. They had to be quick. Violet was only in bed a moment before there was a knock at the door. What is it this time?
"Violet?"
"Come in, Father."
He appeared in the doorway. "I wanted to check in on you. I know it's been quite some time since I've done so, since you were younger. After being away for so long… well I've missed you so much." He was walking toward the bed.
"I've missed you, too, father." They embraced.
"It's not easy coming home to an emptier house."
She laughed. "Our house is never empty!"
"I know," he agreed. "Your aunts, uncles, and cousins stop by and ask about you. They're pleased you're doing well."
"Even Aunt Lizzie?"
"Yes, even she, the 'family historian' that she is. She also misses you."
"She continues to inspire me."
"I'll be sure to tell her the next time I see her." He kissed her goodnight.
After settling into bed for the night, she felt reassured with her parents' presence; although it had barely been two months since seeing them, and everyone else, for that matter. Her head could have been spinning. Ten people in the main house. Eight were men. Four with whom she was once romantically attached to and three of which were recent…and two men still serious about her…one man too many.
She looked out her window to see the stars peeking through the tall pines and the mountains through the night. Perhaps the rain had finally stopped. What a nice view. She thought. She wanted to imagine seeing such a view almost every day… . She couldn't get ahead of herself. Adam began courting her toward the end of summer in September. Who knew how things would unfold… ?
Adam was the first one at the table the next morning with a cup of coffee. What a Night! He thought. His thoughts however were soon distracted by the slight sound of footsteps.
She stopped short after seeing him. "Oh, Good Morning, Adam."
"Morning." He took another sip of his coffee. "How was your night?"
"It was fine, thank you. I only came down to see if my dress was dry." She picked up a dress on a rack near the fireplace. "I didn't want to wake anyone, though I see you're awake already."
"Well, you're welcome to join me if you'd like. Would you prefer Hot Chocolate?"
"Yes, please. That would be fine."
"Coming right up." He made his way to the kitchen while she found a spot at the table. He came back with a cup, spoon and saucer. "It might still be too hot."
"Thank you." She blowed first. "I imagine your brothers and Pa will be along shortly?"
"Oh, give them a few more minutes. They drag around on Sunday, usually. I was actually surprised your father isn't up yet."
"Perhaps he's still reading. Or, he's sleeping in, like the others. I could hear the men snoring."
He chuckled, then thought of something to ask her. "So…Wendell and William, have very different personalities. Very different from Henry Parker and Ben. I wonder what drew you to them… ?" He added quickly with a grin. "In case they also come to the Ponderosa, since everyone's figured out Virginia City is actually in Nevada Territory."
He learned something from Wendell, hadn't he? They had become quite chummy lately. "What did Wendell tell you?"
"Oh, that there were a couple others who also turned out to be different. I assumed there were, since I made the same claim to him."
"People change and may want different things over time, even if it's in five years."
"Several changes in five years."
"Yes, you must know Henry Parker is a relative that I heard of and was subsequently reintroduced to after deciding Wendell and I were finished. We were only together a few months before I decided I wasn't compatible with a biology major with a strong interest in biochemistry."
"That must have been dull."
"It was. And so I was reacquainted with Ben. Ben was Henry's friend from college, and a son of one of my father's business partners back when he was still a lawyer."
"Which Henry?"
"The one living in London with Uncle Charles." She resumed. "He was a well rounded student: high honors, very popular and Captain of the rowing team and skilled in other sports. He was always a competitor as were the men in his family. When the war struck he wanted to continue his grandfather's legacy in the military. He was a naval officer. I had no interest in being a military bride."
"Bride?"
"I turned down his proposal. A friend of mine lost her fiancé who enlisted earlier that year, at Fort Sumpter that Spring. After David and others made up their mind to enlist, I couldn't go through with the possibility of losing more than one man of importance to me. My biggest regret is my Father may not have needed to lose an old friend, but that's another story for another day. Which brings me to Will. He along with his brother, Joseph attended Harvard with David. The three of them became fairly good friends, and the Choate family became frequent guests in our home, and the Adams family in theirs. I acted like a nuisance to David and Joseph, however, Will seemed to treat me like his own little sister, which annoyed David. After law school, Joseph moved to New York, and Will stayed around Boston with David and remained close friends even while on opposite ends of the courtroom. After marrying, David eventually decided to move to Philadelphia to be closer to his wife's family. Father soon after was appointed Judge and was impressed with Will's ambition and progress. He remained a guest in our home from time to time, and he would casually inquire as to how I was doing and we were amicable. While I was still being courted by Ben, his sister Caroline asked what I thought of her brother. I didn't quite know how to answer except that I always considered him a good friend, and one of the most intelligent men I knew. Then, two years ago as a guest at Joseph's Wedding party, Will asked me for a dance and afterward took me aside. He started casually talking as to how far I've come since his first visit, since my last accomplishments, and becoming a lovely young lady…and I realized then he was confessing an interest in courting me. I wasn't ready, having ended my courtship with Ben not long before. He then told me I didn't have to make a decision then but hoped I would reconsider at a later time. About a month later, I had reconsidered, thinking I had no reason to turn him down, as we were good friends, Mother and Father liked him and I was blown away by his accomplishments and appreciated his wittiness. And so, he courted me. Last year, he proposed. While we initially considered local properties, He became more intent on eventually settling in New York. The townhouse he mentioned was one we considered. I was more interested in a property in Westchester, but he decided it was too remote from his office. I wanted to teach another year, but he felt it would be difficult in the transitional stages of moving between Boston and New York. Wedding planning became difficult with his work schedule and our chosen venue. By the summer it was decided it wasn't working between us…now here we are." She noticed his eyebrows furrowed at different points of her story, noting he was thinking. "A penny for your thoughts?"
"I was just wondering, at what point did you fall in love with William?"
She paused, but before she could answer, she could hear footsteps.
"Ah, Adam—just the man I was hoping to see… ." Mr. Adams was making his way to the fireplace to gather his and Mrs. Adams' belongings. He stopped short of seeing his daughter at the table who was now rising. "Elizabeth Abigail Adams! My daughter, entertaining the company of a man while underdressed?! Your mother would not be pleased. She taught you better."
"I was just leaving, father."
"You're leaving now! Upstairs at once!"
She dismissed herself and scurried up the stairs, with embarrassment and irritation. She stopped just short of slamming her door before falling onto the bed, and covered her face with tears.
"Mr. Adams, it was my fault. She came down to gather her things and wasn't expecting anyone else to be here. I prolonged her. I'm sorry, Sir."
"You needn't apologize Adam. She is a guest in your home."
"And I did nothing to stop it." He added, wondering if he said too much already, seeing Mr. Adams was now staring at him. "I don't mean to interfere in family affairs, Sir. But I should have at least excused myself, which I did not."
Mr. Adams was silent for a moment. "Adam, I'll be back before breakfast."
Adam went to make sure he had more hot water for another cup of coffee. He sure was going to need it… .
Later on, the Sun was shining bright outside. Adam and his brothers were cleaning up after the storm, shirtless. Hoss asked Adam a question while he was repairing a chicken wire fence.
"How was your night Adam?"
"Well, I slept alright, but I had the most peculiar dream."
"What happened?"
"I was in a courtroom, being tried for something…Mr. Adams was overseeing the case…William was interrogating me and trying to accuse me of things."
"What things?" Now Joe was interested.
"I don't recall all the details, but it appeared that I stole something."
"His fiancée?" Joe ducked when he caught his brother's glare while still holding a hammer.
Ben came outside. "Hop Sing says breakfast is almost ready. And for goodness—sake put your shirts on! We have guests here. And clean up!"
"Alright, Pa." Hoss replied somewhat grudgingly. "It was mighty hot out here."
He added. "Adam, Mr. Adams would like to speak with you beforehand."
Joe, putting his shirt back on noted Adam was looking up at a window while putting his back on. "Looks like someone was watching."
Better hit the shower. I wouldn't want to keep him waiting. He thought.
Looking back from the window, Violet couldn't be help but be gleeful. She always wondered what an early day of work for these men was like. Now she caught a glimpse. She began wondering what it would be like, to wake up like this every day… . She also couldn't wait to tell Adam what happened.
Mr. Adams had returned downstairs to find Adam already seated. He was as ready as he'll ever be.
"Good Morning, Sir."
"Good Morning, Adam."
"May I interest you in coffee Sir?"
"Certainly, please." Adam was getting cream and sugar, but he added. "This is fine, thank you. I prefer my coffee plain."
"You're just like me, Sir." When Mr. Adams began sitting down. He continued. "Sir, about what happened—nothing happened." He wondered if that made any sense and if he should start over.
"This happened before."
"I'm sorry?" Adam was confused.
"One night the two of you were quoting Shakespeare. My wife told me Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Myers shared that story yesterday. This was why you weren't initially surprised to see her."
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Myers, the gossips of all Virginia City. He took a quick sip and nodded. "Well, yes, Sir, but nothing happened then, either." Thanks to them… .
Mr. Adams was silent for a moment, sipped his coffee and said, "I know."
"You believe me, Sir?" Adam was really confused.
"Yes. I've been getting to know your pa. I see the kind of man he is and the household he runs. I imagine he would come down hard on you before I would."
For once, he could agree with Mr. Adams. "You're right about that, Sir."
"Oh, and Adam. I believe an apology is in order, for raising my voice in your home. It added unnecessary conflict."
"No harm done, Sir. You're behaving the way any father would."
"And your pa?"
"He would holler and tan us."
"Ah," he nodded.
After breakfast, Adam drove the guests back to the hotel and the Myers before service. Enough rain had cleared that the roads, while damp, were still rideable. After waiting outside the Myers', Violet was ready to go.
After helping her in the carriage she said, "I wanted to thank you for this morning."
"Oh? Why?"
"Well, you must have gotten through to my father. He came to the door and apologized. He decided while he was surprised, it was wrong of him to humiliate me in front of our host. That he should have handled himself better."
"Hmm."
"That's not like him at all, to admit things like that. You must be making an impression on him."
"Well, any impression is a good impression for him."
"Your father invited my parents to stay at the Ponderosa. Father claims last night was the best he had in years!"
Adam wasn't ready for that. Would William be there?
"The Myers know I was also invited to stay, while they're in town."
"Ok." He decided, feeling more at ease. "Here's to new beginnings." He pulled the reigns for the horses to take off.