The next morning dawned bright and early, and found Vanessa where she shouldn't have been, in Hop Sings' kitchen. The shorter Chinese immigrant was known for not liking others there, but Vanessa was tolerated...amazingly. She'd been in here before, when he'd allowed it, and so far she had yet to do something that he didn't like. Vanessa didn't try to take over, she simply allowed him to give her tasks. This morning she'd been delegated to stirring a flapjack mix.
"Have you ever tried this with blueberries Hop Sing?" she asked, setting the bowl down and wiping her hands on the apron around her waist. The cook shook his head, "No...You want, you try. I no get in trouble with Cartwrights."He glanced back at her, and winked, "I remember."
The young woman behind him laughed, "You remember do you. What do you remember?" He turned from the stove and cocked his head to one side, "I remember young you and Joe coming in here to steal snack from my table!" she giggled into her hand. "You remember a lot then, because we haven't done that since I was about six." Hop Sing laughed as well, "I also remember when you would torment Mr Adam. HE make great noise about it." she looked away from him quickly then, making him move closer, "What I say, Miss Vanessa?" She forced a smile then turned back to him, "I really was a terror wasn't I?" Hop Sing smiled also, and she could see how it reached into his very core.
"Yes, you were quiet a terror." It wasn't Hop Sing. Vanessa spun on her stool to see Adam standing in the kitchen. He had his clothing that she'd hidden away in one hand. "I remember, once when I was about sixteen, you'd gotten your hands on a new pet and had sent it into my room at night." he glanced down at the clothes in his hand, "This isn't the first time you've taken clothes away from me either." He took a deep breath, then said, "I know we've got a history of driving each other crazy, but I would like to put that aside."
Images flashed in his memory; her as a little girl, her hair down as it usually was, prancing around the stable yard with his brother as they played with a new stray dog. Or running around with Little Joe on her heels as they were chased off by Hop Sing. This wasn't that little girl any more, she deserved to be treated as such. Clearing his throat, Adam looked into her eyes, or at least he tried to. "Vanessa, I'm trying to be the bigger person here..."
She just stared at him. Why was he saying all this? She'd heard the conversation outside her door last night. Was he trying to play her, just to prove something? Then again, what if he was just being nice. She'd heard from his family that he could be that way, once you got past his outer shell. She put a hand over her eyes and grimaced. She was remembering all the times that he had tortured her as a child. When she had been six, and just after Joe was born, Adam had left a smelly used diaper in her bed overnight, making it seem as though she too were still in need of them. Then also the time that he'd told her that a bear was roaming around outside...and had climbed up to her window and had scratched at the glass until she was in tears.
"How do I know that this isn't one of your tricks?" she uncovered her eyes and looked at him square. "You were no more of a terror than I." Adam hung his head, "I realize that, but I am trying here Vanessa. Please give me some credit." He was staring right into her soul, she could feel it. Shifting in her seat, she said dryly, "Knowing that this might come back to bite me, I accept your truce." he smiled broadly and walked out of the kitchen.
Hop Sing was agape, "How you do that?" Vanessa was confused, "Do what?"
"Get Mr. Adam to call truce?" She shrugged, honestly she didn't know what had happened. She couldn't come out and tell them that she'd heard him talk about the dance. Or that her father had dared to endorse her being chased by the three boys. She smirked, 'then again,' she thought, setting her bowl aside and leaving to get dressed, 'this could be more fun than I thought. After all, I DO know what their planning...' she stifled a giggle and hustled into her bedroom.
Breakfast went without a hitch, and was causing Vanessa a headache. All three Cartwright boys were vying for her attention. Little Joe offered to take her for a ride that afternoon, while Hoss caught her off guard mentioning a new colt that had just arrived. Adam was Adam throughout the meal. He'd been there to pull out her chair when she'd come down, and was one of the first to engage her in conversation.
"Vanessa, I hear you're quite the accomplished horsewoman." Vanessa had looked up from her plate of flapjacks and swallowed quickly, "Why yes. I like to think so." He stopped eating, and put his arms on the table, "I also hear that your steed at home is a wild stallion?"
Vanessa smiled wickedly, "Ah, so Papa has been talking about me has he?" she looked pointedly at her father. Ben laughed, "He only mentioned that you've gotten attached to...what is his name again?"
Vanessa nodded, "Hades. Did he forget to tell you that he was the one who named him?" Ben looked at his friend, "No he failed to say that." Ben watched his friend, "I get the feeling that there's a tale behind the name?" Adam asked, bringing her attention back to him. Vanessa smiled at her father, "Oh yes. A bit of a whopper isn't it Papa?" Nicholas winked at his daughter, knowing that she'd caught him in this little game. "Why don't you tell them, Nessa?"
Vanessa sat back in her chair and looked around the table, "Well, Papa and a few hands had gone out to gather wild horses, and had just gotten back when I saw him." She looked at Hoss, who she knew would appreciate her tale, "He's an even 16 hands tall with a strong back. His entire coloring is a brilliant black that almost shimmers blue in the sunlight. But when I saw him, he was bucking like nothing I had seen before; he was scaring away all the hands, even Papa was spooked by him. They'd barely gotten him into the corral, and Papa was angry."
Nicholas interrupted, "That blasted horse had come close from kicking me in the breadbasket." he shook his head, "I told Vanessa that she wasn't to go near the beast, I was afraid hat he'd stomp her. It was then that I named him Hades." Vanessa chuckled, "You said that only a horse with the devils soul could be that mean." she sighed, "But I didn't listen, and that night I went out to see what he was like." Hoss smiled, "I think I taught you how to do that." Vanessa nodded, "Yes, I was thinking about that cat we'd caught when we were little. I hopped the fence and was standing next to him before I really thought about it." she shook her head, laughing softly, "He didn't move. Just stared at me with this mournful look in his eyes." Her face took on a rueful kind of look, making Nicholas speak up again, "I had gotten up to check on her, and when I found her bed empty, I panicked. Jennifer was the one who found her first, and was as scared as I was." Nicholas glared lovingly at his daughter, "but then again, if Vanessa hadn't snuck out like that, I doubt we would have learned his secret."
All Cartwrights turned their heads to look at Nicholas, "And what is it?" Hos asked, his voice quiet. Vanessa spoke before her father, "He prefers women riders, to be specific, me. I have yet to see him allow any other being on his back, let alone a man." Adam scoffed, "How can you be so sure?"
It was Nicholas' turn to deliver a shock, "Because one day, about a week after we'd brought him home, he was on the list for breaking." Nicholas shook his head, "He shook off every rider we had, but when Vanessa got in with him, he didn't even move! The blasted horse even lowered himself so that she could get onto his back easier." Nicholas was laughing, "I know it sounds crazy, but I swear to you it's what happened."
Adam turned his head back to Vanessa. She was looking intensely at her plate, "I know what he's talking about." he whispered to her, making her look up at him. "What?" she asked, her eyes shifting from a gentle blue to a guarded hazel. "When you were about three years old, you and your family had just gotten here for your summer stay. Your mother was showing you off to Pa when a horse whinnied and nearly bolted. Just afterwards, you cried out and the animal quieted."
"But you would have only been six at the time, how can you remember something so small as that?" her face was worried, as though he had discovered a terrible secret. He shrugged, "I've always had a good memory. And seeing something like that was worth remembering." Her hand sitting on the table had begun to shake, so he placed one comforting over it. "Relax, I didn't tell anyone." she looked up into his eyes.
Little Joe interrupted them, "Why don't you and I go on that ride now. What do you say?" Vanessa turned to look at him and nodded, "I'll go with you for the horses..." she rose to her feet, making each man at the table stand as well. Smiling at them, she took Joe's offered arm and followed him out of the house. Hoss and Adam waited until the door shut before they began a stare down, wanting the other to make a move first. "I hope that boy can control himself." Ben whispered to his friend, who simply chuckled, "Honestly Ben, I would worry more about Vanessa hurting the poor boy.." That caught Adam's attention.
"What do you mean?" Nicholas laughed harder this time, "About a year ago, Vanessa was riding some of our fence line with a couple hands. A storm came up and they had to take shelter somewhere. The nearest place was an old miners shack just on the other side of the fence. The whole crew sat inside for several hours, it went well into the night. Apparently one of the newer boys thought it would be a good idea to...make a play for Vanessa's hand." he shook his head, " He'd tried for her while she was asleep, perhaps thinking that by laying next to her he'd get closer." Nicholas chortled, "Turns out Vanessa used the knowledge that her grandfather had taught her and broke his arm."
Adam grimaced, "I don't think that's very funny." Hoss was shaking his head as well, "Me neither." Nicholas calmed himself, taking several deep breaths and explained, "Every hand that I've hire, at some point has tried to make my daughter sweet on them. Usually their advances are turned down gently and they continue on with their lives, either with the ranch or leaving. Every once in a while, however, life gets a little interesting, and some new boy thinks that since Vanessa is so open with the rest of the boys that she is available to anyone. This was just one of those times."
Ben started laughing, "From what I remember about your daughter, I doubt that Little Joe will stand a chance." Nicholas nodded, and finished his meal.
Joe cussed the horses onward and the small buggy continued forward. He glanced at the girl sitting next to him, her own face showing awe at the surrounding landscape. "Oh, Joe this is beautiful." she whispered, leaning back in the seat and looking at him. Joe smiled, "I guess so. Want to see the lake?" She nodded, the enthusiasm perhaps a bit forced, but Joe couldn't tell. He made the horses canter a bit faster and soon they were sitting on the lake shore, or at least he was.
Vanessa was standing in the water, her skirts lifted to her knees, revealing well shaped calves. Joe was leaning against a tree trunk as she walked around in the shallow water near the lakes edge. "I don't think I'll ever get used to how large your Ponderosa really is." she said, turning to look at him. She held her skirts in one hand and shaded her eyes with the other, "Joe I swear, it's like you live in heaven itself."
Joe sat forward, putting his arms on his knees, "It's not heaven, Vanessa. But it comes darn close." Vanessa moved out of the water and dropped her skirts. She almost plopped next to him, tucking her feet underneath herself. "So tell me, what could possibly make you want to bring me out here in the first place?" she asked, leaning back against the tree. He turned around to to her and watched her close her eyes.
She was so beautiful. Her hair was loosely braided, and tossed forward over her shoulder. The ends of her hair were wet from where she'd bent forward to watch the tadpoles swim around her toes. The dress she was wearing was a soft blue that accented her eyes and while she was in the water, it made her seem like she'd come from the lake itself. Her eyes...she was watching him. "You're so beautiful." he whispered, moving so that he could lean in for a kiss.
Vanessa looked away quickly, but he brought his hand to her chin. She was blushing! "Vanessa, what's the matter?" she tugged out of his grasp, and looked him in the eye. "You didn't answer my question Joe. Why did you bring me out here?" he shrugged, "I just thought you'd appreciate some time alone..." he looked back at her, and she smiled. "Joe, this wouldn't have anything to do with a dance coming up would it?" Again Joe shrugged, "And what if it did?" She chuckled and leaned forward, putting a hand on his cheek. "Oh dear, you've gotten in over your head." Joe ducked his head, "Then why not tell me what to do?"
"No, Joseph. I cannot go with you." she'd tried to keep it gentle, but when Joe stood up and paced a ways away, she felt like she'd broken the poor boys heart. "Joe," she clambered to her feet and went to him. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she forced him to turn and look at her, "I was around long before you were...Heaven's I was one of the flower girls at your mothers wedding! Joe, I've known you for all your life, but I cannot go to this dance with you. Not if it gives you a hope that we may continue in a relation. I've always thought of you as a dear younger brother, that's why I've said no." he looked away from her, the hurt evident in his face. "I don't understand why..." She went into his arms and held him tightly until he returned the embrace. "Why not?" She shook her head and looked up into his eyes. "Joseph...I can't explain it, but you are to me what your brothers are to you. I cannot think of anything more than that." he was watching her closely, "But you will dance with me?"
She nodded enthusiastically, "Of course, I had thought you would never ask!" she then threw her arms around his neck and he spun her around, both of them laughing happily. Once he'd set her down, they went back to the water, and splashed around like little children....if only they'd known that they had been watched all morning.
Joe set them out again within an hour, knowing that his brothers would be out breaking in a few new horses. "I thought you'd like to see this." he said as they came closer to the corral. Hoss was leaning against the fence watching Adam get bucked around like a stuffed doll. Joe stopped the buggy just beyond the corral, where he could safely tie off the horses. Before he could get to her, Vanessa had jumped down and was walking quickly to the fence to stand by Hoss. "How many do you have for today?" she asked, climbing up one rung to get a better view of the area. Adam had just lost his seat and was scrambling to get out of the way of the angry animal.
Hoss turned to her; now that she was higher she almost stood eye to eye with the beast of a man, "There's two more for sure, then for tomorrow I ain't quite got the numbers straight yet." Adam joined them at the fence, climbing easily to sit on the top rail. "Ah, hello Vanessa. How was your tour of the ranch?" she smiled at him, "Same as always. I can't get my mind around how beautiful it is." Hoss chuckled, "Yeah, that it is."
"Alright Hoss, it's your turn." Hoss moved away, making room for Joe to join the group. Adam waited until Joe was settled before he launched into them, "I noticed you were gone for quite some time." Joe glanced at his brother, then stoutly ignored him. Vanessa grinned, and turned her face to watch Hoss give the signal to the cowboys. The large horse was as wild as Hades had once been, and was giving Hoss the ride of his life.
Adam nudged Little Joe, "Answer the question." Joe glanced at his brother and grinned, "I thought I had." Adam shook his head, and looked at Vanessa, "Where'd you go?" Vanessa spoke first, "the lake, Adam. Although I doubt it's any of your business." she turned to glare at him.
Adam smiled broadly, "And what if I were to make it my business?" He leaned in as he spoke, his face close to Vanessa's. She raised an eyebrow, daring him to do something. "I won't allow it." A cheer went up beyond them, Hoss had just gotten thrown for the first time and was rushing away from the animal. The great horse was chasing him down, and was close to rearing to kick him, when something happened. He dropped his hooves, and allowed the hands to bring him back to the gate.
Adam's head spun to look at Vanessa, who was talking animatedly to Hoss, "Why don't you leave this to Adam and Joe. I've been thinking about that colt you mentioned this morning." She was purposefully not looking at Adam, knowing what he was thinking. She'd done it again! Hoss was eager to agree and glanced at his brother, "You can finish up here, right?"
Adam could only nod. Hoss jumped the fence, and was quick to turn around and help Vanessa to the ground. He watched as Vanessa kept her eyes averted from him while they began to walk away, the barn was only a few hundred yards away, and the sky clear. Then Vanessa stopped walking and glanced back over her shoulder. Adam knew he'd been caught watching her, but didn't try to hide it. He waved to her, and nodded cordially.
Vanessa felt her cheeks burn, and prayed that she would be able to talk her way out of it with Hoss. He'd always been such a kind soul to her, ever since they had been children. She remembered one time, when she'd been running pell-mell from Adam, Hoss had been the one to stand up to his brother, chastising him for chasing after her.
Hoss had stashed her above the barn in a hay pile, when Adam had come in, angrier than either had seen him in a long time. "Big brother," he'd said, puffing out his ten year old chest, "You leave her alone!" Adam heaved a deep breath, and then started on his brother, "Hoss, you'd best get out of my way! That monster has done this for the last time!"
Vanessa started to giggle, making Hoss look down at her, "What is it, Miss Vanessa?" She smiled up at him, and kept moving forward, "I was just remembering that one time, when I'd stolen Adam's clothes from the creekside, and you'd rescued me." Hoss threw back his head in a hearty laugh. "I hadn't thought about that in a long time!"
Adam was red with rage, he'd been washing as per Marie's request down in the south creek, the one just off the house, behind the kitchen. Vanessa, bitter over the prank he'd pulled on her that morning (the beast had put a snake in her trunk!), she had followed him; and when he'd gotten away from the bank a good ways, she'd rushed out and grabbed his clothes. He'd hollered after her, "VANESSA! GET BECK HERE NOW!" She'd gotten to the top of the small ravine, then she'd turned around, "Come and get them if you want them!" He'd moved faster than she had thought he would, but she got away. She'd made it to the barn just a few moments before he had, and Hoss had seen the clothes in her hands. "UP!" he'd whispered, pointing to the loft, and took the clothes from her arms. He threw them into the stable he'd just cleaned, and was just grabbing his pitchfork when Adam had come roaring in.
Hoss, "He never did learn where you were, did he?" Vanessa shook her head and took his arm, "No...but I bet he had a few thoughts when I came in for dinner that night." Hoss nodded, "I remember, before you and your Mama came down, my Mother had some choice words for Adam. She was telling him to be the perfect gentlemen, or he would be sent to bed without dinner." Vanessa laughed at that. "I was wondering why Adam kept his mouth shut the entire time." They'd reached the barn by now, and Hoss was pulling open one of the great doors. There was a soft whinny from inside, and Vanessa glanced at Hoss excited. "Is that her?" Hoss nodded, grinning from ear to ear.
Vanessa hurried forward, and quickly found the skittish animal. She was only a few hands high, and was the richest shade of brown that Vanessa had seen in a long time. "She's beautiful!" she whispered, stroking the colts neck gently as she looked her over. Hoss was still grinning like a madman, and walked up behind her. "She's been a real treat to have around lately." Vanessa froze. She couldn't tell if he was officially talking about the colt or herself. "I'm sure she has, look at her! I haven't seen coloring like this since..." she ran a hand over her hair., "Oh I can't remember when..." Hoss was still smiling, and it was making her nervous, "What is it?" she took a small step away from him.
"Hmm? Oh it's nothin, I was just thinking about that time when you and I got stuck out in that storm." Vanessa nodded, "Yes. Adam was the one sent out to get us..."she trailed off as the colt began to nibble at her hand. "Hey, little one! What's so interesting about that!" Pulling her hand out of the way, her eyes fell on a great beast in the back stall. He was a towering black stallion that was staring at her. "oh my! Where'd he come from!" She instantly moved away form the colt and walked slowly towards the jittery animal. "oh, ummm, that's Jupiter. Adam paid a good amount for him, and is breaking him alone."
Vanessa was ignoring him, "he's magnificent. Taller than Hades by at least two hands," her hands roamed over the horse's face, "Strong teeth and jaw..." she shook her head, "can I take him for a ride?" Hoss looked skeptical, "I don't know...Adam's fairly protective of him." Vanessa looked at him, "i can see why, but just one little ride, Hoss. What could go wrong? I've broken horses about his size before anyway." Hoss shrugged, "All right, but your not going out alone." He grabbed the tack for Chubbs and went over to the stocky horse, "I'm going with you."
Vanessa reined in the wild horse and glanced over her shoulder. She'd gotten lost earlier when she'd asked Hoss for a race. They'd rounded a hill and before she had noticed, she'd lost track of Hoss. This wasn't like her! She'd never gotten lost on the Ponderosa before...then again, she'd never really been ALONE on the Ponderosa before. She'd always had one of the boys or Ben or her father, and now she didn't know what to do. Well, actually she did, but this was new land. If she was at home, she would be able to get to the house easily. This was different, and she was worried. There was a storm coming up, and by the looks of the clouds it was bringing with it, it was going to be a big one. Heaving a deep breath, she nudged the horse forward. She had to find a place to hide before that storm broke.
Hos came barreling into the stable yard, startling the boys seated on the porch. "What is it, Hoss?" Ben asked as he came over to them. Hoss looked worried, "It's Vanessa. She and I went out for a ride, and, well, I lost her!" Nicholas lurched forward, "Lost her? How did that happen?" Thunder clapped in the background, making them all jump. Hoss took a deep breath and began to explain, "We were just short of the north pass when, I don't know how, we got separated. I spent the better part of an hour looking for her, but all I was following were my own tracks." He shrugged.
Adam came out of the house as another thunder clap shook the house, "What's going on out here?" he asked, joining the two fathers. "Adam, Vanessa's gone missing."
She was cold, and tired and hungry and sore and hungry and tired and...'okay, Vanessa, stop complaining!' she thought to herself, shrinking deeper into the cave. She'd found it just after the water started pouring down; poor Jupiter was even worse off than she was. The beast was hunkered down in the back of the cave. She'd cleaned him off as best she could, but she could only do so much with her clothes already soaked. Thankfully, her closest petticoat had done a fair job, and now he was at least calmed enough to let her think.
How was she going to get out of this one!
"VANESSA!" he didn't know why he was shouting, he could barely hear his own voice over the storm. But the water was washing away any trace of her, and it was the only option he had left. "VANESSA!" There was a cave just up ahead. He knew he wouldn't be of much good looking for her if he got sick. If he didn't get any further soon, he'd have to take shelter somewhere, and that would be as good as any.
Shaking his head, he dismounted and led his horse into the dark opening. It was small and cramped, but it would work for the night...or would it? There was another creature in here...
"Adam?"