It wasn't funny, this certainly was NOT funny. She was stuck in a cave with a man that she didn't know whether she despised or loved...
Loved? Was that really what she felt? Or was it something else, something deeper than she had felt before. 'Ugh. Vanessa, make up your mind.' she thought to herself, standing and going to the entrance one more time.
"It hasn't lightened up at all." he said, leaning against the far wall. Vanessa sighed, "Where are we exactly?" she turned back to face him, and instantly wished she hadn't. He was sitting down, his left leg bent and supporting his arm. His right leg was extended in front of him, his right hand sitting just above his gun. It was a provocative way to sit, and it sent shivers down her spine. He must have seen her shiver, because he was instantly on his feet and moving towards her. Before she could stop him, he'd wrapped his arms around her and was rubbing her back. Yeah, like that was helping her shivering problem. If anything it was making it worse!
"Sorry, I didn't bring a coat or I'd give you that." he whispered, pulling away just enough to look into her face. Vanessa raised an eyebrow, "You didn't answer my question, Adam. Where are we?" He shrugged, "About an hours ride away from the house. If the rain ever lets up we could probably make it there without any trouble, but they way things are, we might have to make do here for the night."
That wasn't what she wanted to have happen. Moving away from him, she went over to her borrowed horse and stroked his muzzle. "And how far to walk?" He shook his head, "Probably another hour on top of that. Vanessa, what are you so scared about?"
She looked up at him, eyebrows raised, "I'm not scared. What makes you think I'm scared?" He crossed his arms and stared at her pointedly. "Ever since I found you, you've been acting like the world is coming to an end. You can't stop asking about getting back to the house when clearly we aren't going anywhere in this weather. What is bothering you?" when she didn't answer, he went back to his seat and plopped onto the floor. "Well, I at least know that it's going to be a cold night if it keeps raining like this. You might as well get used to the idea I said earlier."
Vanessa immediately dropped her gaze to the floor. His proposed idea called for the two of them sharing body heat as much as possible. He didn't have a spare blanket, so the only thing they could possibly use to cover themselves would be his jacket... if she decided to go along with it. "No, I think we should make for the house." She was being troublesome and she knew it, but she was scared to think of spending the night THAT close to him.
There was a strange noise coming from his direction, and it startled her enough to make her look at him. He was laughing! The darn man was laughing at her. "You really think that we can make it to the house before it gets any darker? I was lucky to see this cave! We won't know which way we are headed and this part of the Ponderosa isn't known for being the nicest country. There are mountains out there that could easily come down in a mudslide, one wrong step and we could go tumbling into a ravine, or into the Truckee. I'm sorry Nessa, but you..."
"Don't call me that." she interrupted, making his brow crease. "Why not? It's what your father called you the other night." she nodded, "yes, but it was also what my mother used to call me...and Ethan, before..." she turned away from him. "If you insist on staying here, then I guess we should get comfortable." she moved over to him, and sat on the cold, hard stone. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she looked away from him, sure that he would ask her something about Ethan.
For a while the only sound was the thunder of the rain, and the occasional nicker from the animals; then his arm dropped across her shoulders. "You're freezing, come over here." Before she could protest, he had pulled her tight into his shoulder. Her hand dropped onto his lowered thigh, and she snuggled into the warmth of his body. He draped his jacket over the two of them, and laid his head against hers. It felt good to be like this, natural. Vanessa closed her eyes, welcoming the warm weight of his arms around her shoulders. His presence was comforting, it reminded her of the winters nights that she had sat in Ethan's arms, in front of her fathers' hearth.
"So tell me about this Ethan of yours. He must have been something to catch your eye." Vanessa half smiled, "He was, at first. Papa hired him to help with the round up that fall, and he proved that he was good with animals. It was when they came back that Papa offered him a permanent spot with us, and he took it. Over the winter Ethan and I grew close, and Mama was so excited. She had waited so long for me to find someone..." she paused and pulled away from him slightly. Her face turned to his, and her eyes caught his. Her mother had told her often of how she "prayed oven for Vanessa to find a good man...like the Cartwright's." Vanessa had gotten after her mother then, saying how impossible it was that she could fall for a Cartwright. They were "loud, crass and utterly impossible." Of course, the Cartwright's had been the whole idea. Jennifer Warrick had wanted her daughter to marry a Cartwright since the moment she arrived.
Adam was watching the thoughts dance behind Vanessa's eyes. She was remembering something, or someone. Perhaps this Ethan character that had her so shook up...or her mother. There was a deep pain in her eyes that he wished he could pull out of her soul and erase from her memory.
"Someone like Ethan. He was tall and strong. He could crack a whip like no man I've known before or since. Everyone respected him, he wasn't just a hand on the Summerset, he was an equal."
"When did that change?" he prompted, rubbing her arm to keep her warm. She'd been shivering the entire time she was talking. She hadn't noticed though, it was only because he was so close to her now that he had even felt the soft shaking of her body against his. "why does he scare you so much?"
She shook her head, "It's not that he scares me, but there was definitely a change in him. It was right after he asked me to marry him, when Mama told me something. We were sitting in the garden behind the house...
Jennifer loved her daughter very much, and wanted the best for her. But there was something that she didn't like about Ethan Lamb. She'd thought about it so much that she'd decided to tell her daughter about her history. Her dear little Nessa was a grown woman and deserved to know...after all, she was going to marry a white man. She watched as Nessa carefully separated the rosemary shoots from the weeds that had overtaken the herb garden. "Nessa, can I talk to you...about something very important?" Nessa glanced back at her mother, "What is it, Mama?"
"Haven't you ever wondered why...why you feel so comfortable with animals?" Nessa shrugged and went back to her sorting, "I was raised on a ranch, Mama. Is it really that surprising?" Jennifer chuckled, "No I guess not. But what I really meant to ask was if you've wondered about your lack of similarity to your father." That stopped her cold. Vanessa leaned back and stared at her mother. "Is there something I should know?" Jennifer took a deep breath and looked her daughter in the eye.
"Nessa, dearest, you aren't my daughter, nor your fathers." Vanessa looked away quickly, then turned to her mother. "Your mother was my sister, a young woman that decided to love a Paiute. Your father was killed in a fight over their lands east of here, just beyond the influence of the Ponderosa. Your mother had already given birth to you, and had wanted to raise you amongst the Paiute; she'd wanted so many things for you...then one night she arrived at our doorstep, you in tow. She'd been attacked on the road, coming to visit us. Nicholas went for the doctor, but it was too little too late. She died in my arms." Jennifer couldn't stop the tears that choked her voice. "Your father and I adopted you, took you in as ours."
"Why wasn't I told this earlier?" Vanessa asked, her voice a whisper. Jennifer closed her eyes and looked away, "Honestly, I don't know. It never came up; you were so happy to be with us, and I never thought it would be an issue."
"Then why tell me now?"
"Because of something I heard Ethan tell your father the other night...they were talking about how your life would change once you're married...and Ethan made it very clear that he had no love of the Paiute. Something about how his parents were killed in a raid years ago. I was afraid..."
"So you tell me that I'm the offspring of what he hates? Thank you so much mother!" She'd gotten up, so angry...and run to the barn to get Ethan.
"Let's go for a ride."
Adam watched her face.
The last time he had seen her had been right before his departure for school back East. She'd been a youth of eleven then, but had acted so much older. Even then, he'd been able to see the beauty that she would grow into. He just hadn't told anyone about it. And how could he? Mentioning anything to his brothers would have only caused trouble, not that they would have understood at their ages then. Even now, as they were competing for her graces at the dance, he was getting the distinct impression that the man that would snag Vanessa would need more than his brothers' simple country ways.
"Adam..." she poked him in the ribs, "Adam, did you hear that?" She was looking at the front of their little hideaway. He turned to look that way, and heard the sharp noise of a man swearing. Adam didn't recognize the voice, and helped Vanessa to her feet. keeping one arm around her, he pulled his weapon and called out, "Hello out there!" there wasn't an immediate response, then a shadow appeared against the gray rainstorm. It was a man, he stood tall against the entrance to their little haven, his shoulders broad and powerful with equally dangerous arms. Twin gun belts hung on his hips and his clothes were muddy. The man was soaked from head to toe, and was starting to shake in the cold.
"Hello there. I was hoping to find something uninhabited for the night, but then again, I won't turn down some good company." the man must have smiled, but neither could tell for sure. He walked forward, and huddled just beyond where they were sitting. "I hope I'm not intruding..." he let the question fade, looking pointedly in their direction.
Vanessa spoke first, "No...we were just caught in the storm unexpectedly...Jacob." she said his name like it was poison. The man looked up sharply, "Vanessa Warrick. I didn't think I'd find you here, this is a pleasant surprise." Adam felt more than saw Vanessa smirk. He knew what this man was, who he was related to. "Jacob Lamb, I presume?" he said, grabbing Vanessa's hand with his free one, squeezing it comfortingly. "Yes, that's me...and you are?"
"Adam Cartwright, and this is my ranch, the Ponderosa." They heard Jacob scoff, then begin to chuckle. "The Ponderosa, eh? Well then, I have come a long way."
"Why are you here, Jacob?" Vanessa asked, her voice strained. There was something about this man that she didn't like, Adam could feel it. Jacob chuckled again, and stood, "Why I was looking for you, dear Nessa..." he waited for her to react to that then continued, "You see, I promised my brother that I would take you back to the Summerset. He knows you still dream about him, that you still care for him."
Adam felt Nessa start to pull away. She wanted out of this cave, now. Carefully, Adam pushed her towards the entrance. Before she got very far, Jacob was on his feet and pointing on gun in their direction, "Oh no...no ones leaving just yet. At least, not without me. I'm taking Nessa back with me Adam...my brother's waiting for his bride."
When asked what happened later, Adam wouldn't be able to explain what happened next. Just that an irrational anger erupted inside him, and he fired. He didn't care if he hit the man or not, he just wanted Vanessa to be able to get away. There was just something about how he'd said 'bride' that didn't sit right with him...maybe it was a lifelong kinship to Vanessa, or maybe it was something deeper and more profound. Either way, his only thought was to get as far away form this man as possible.
Jacob hit the ground with a loud grunt. Adam grabbed Vanessa's arm and practically dragged her out of the cave into to pouring rain. After about five steps, he took a ninety degree turn and held her against a tree trunk. It was lucky that he had, because the shot had spooked the horses, and they came tearing out of the cave. After their thundering hooves had passed Adam looked down at her. He could just make out her face in the closing darkness. Her eyes were filled with terror.
Without thinking, he put a hand to her cheek, and lowered his mouth to her ear so that she could hear him. "Don't worry...I'll protect you." He felt wetness on his cheeks, and wasn't able to tell if it was from the rain...or her tears. Her arms reached up and held him tightly, almost as though she didn't want to let him go. "Let's get back to the house." she nodded.
Ben was worried, and he knew Nicholas was also. It had gotten very dark in the last hour since the sun set, and the storm was still raging outside. The sudden influx of water had created a mud pit of the front yard, and it was getting worse. If Adam was fool enough to try and get back now, they would have a hard time just getting to the front door. Nicholas had tried to go to bed, but after darkness fell, he'd come back downstairs and was now sitting next to the fireplace.
"I'm sure they'll be fine. There's a lot of caves and overhangs out that way, and Adam knows where they are." Ben wasn't sure who he was trying to convince of that, himself or Nicholas. Hos and Joe had gone upstairs, and as soon as morning dawned he knew that his two sons would be out on the road searching.
All four of them would be.
Vanessa had stop shaking. The water was still pouring down and the ground had turned into a thick pasty mud, but she had stopped shivering. However, she wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a very bad thing. She and Adam had been walking for what felt like hours, but she knew that was only because of the muck. Adam was ahead of her, feeling his way through the small patch of trees they'd run into since leaving the cave. "These should lead us right to the house. Ugh." he grunted as she tripped into him. "Sorry," she said, trying to stand up straight. She'd caught her foot on a uplifted root and couldn't find anything to catch herself on. "Are you alright?" he asked, turning to grab hold of her arm. She was about to nod, but then realized that he wouldn't see it. "Yes, I'm fine." She removed herself from his grasp, only to feel him pull her against something rough.
Stone? "Adam, where..." he put a hand over her mouth and lowered his to her ear, "I heard something." Her brow crinkled, and she was glad he couldn't see it in the blackness. He could actually hear something over the thunder? Lightening flashed overhead, but even it's brief light didn't give her any chance to see where they were. All she knew was that her back was roughly pressed against a wall of stone behind her, and Adam was leaning in so close she could feel his heart racing beneath his chest. His hand covered her mouth, but it wasn't harsh. He was just holding her here, shielding her from whatever it was that he thought he had heard...then she heard it.
A small creak as someone leaned against a tree and it's weight shifted. The sucking sound of ankle deep mud as it was squashed further into the earth. The soft curse from a man's voice as he lost his way...or possibly a shoe. It was so hard to hear anything over the noise, but here, under the trees and against the stones, it was that much easier. Perhaps because they were sheltered, however weakly, from the storm. The noisemaker was coming closer to them, and it was making Vanessa nervous. She could hear his heavy breathing as he tried to move quickly. He was cursing heavily, and Vanessa recognized the voice.
Somehow, Jacob had survived the horses stampede and had followed them. Of course, it had to have been difficult, with the rain cascading down and the mud leaving almost no trail. He stopped, only a few paces away from them, and she knew he had to be waiting for the next lightening flash. When it did, she was sure it would reveal their hiding place. She slowed her breathing, and felt him do the same. Their best chance was to surprise him and run again. Slowly Adam pulled his gun, she knew this because he was so close to her. He held it between them, and shifted his weight ever so gently to be able to face the man that was after them.
The lightening flashed, and Jacob didn't move. His face was contorted into a vicious grin, and he snarled "You think you can get away that easy?" Adam didn't think, he just fired. Jacob went down quickly, his knees hitting the ground first. Vanessa saw a hand go to his shoulder before the light disappeared again. Adam waited for him to get up again, and when there wasn't another shot, he grabbed Vanessa's hand and led her further south.
They had to be close to the house now...they had to be.
Ben was grateful for one thing this morning...It was getting lighter. The rain had yet to stop, but at least they could see through it a little now. Nicholas was itching to find his daughter and was once again pacing back and forth across the main room. "Relax, Nicholas. I'm sure they're fine." Nicholas nodded, but continued to pace. Back and forth, back and forth. Ben shook his head and looked back out the front door. His other two sons, Hoss and Little Joe were just coming down the stairs, slickers over their clothes and faces properly worried.
Ben tried to smile at it all, but there was something about the silence in the room, the overwhelming sense of doom. He wanted to think that his son and beloved friends daughter were okay...but his gut was telling him otherwise. Hoss came over to him as Little Joe gave Nicholas a spare slicker.
"You feel it too, don't you Pa?" Ben nodded, his eyes glued to the front yard. "There's something about this storm that I don't like. They've been out far too long..." Little Joe and Nicholas came over to them. Nicholas instantly took charge, "Let's get going." The remaining Cartwrights agreed, and the group moved outside.
They hadn't made it past the front hitch post when a horse appeared before them. The man atop the beast made Nicholas' heart sink.
"Ethan Lamb" Ben whirled to his friend,then back to the man in the saddle. He was tall, and thick, built for ranch work. His shoulders were broad and even seated he exuded a confidence that would have any girl swooning. It wasn't hard to see why Vanessa had fallen for the man, except for the rifle he held tight in one hand.
Ethan dismounted, and walked forward. "well, well. Look what I've found." he didn't sound the least bit surprised, Ben's stomach turned at the look in his eyes. Over the years, Ben had seen many things, and not very many unnerved him like this. The man's eyes held no emotion, they were just hollow pits that showed just how despicable the man was. "Nicholas Warrick, and a company of Cartwrights." Ethan chuckled, it was a hateful sound, "My luck's turning around." He motioned with the rifle, "Now you're gonna turn right back around and go into the house. I've got a feeling you're gonna like what I have planned for that little girl of yours."
Hoss and little Joe drew down on the man, a heavy glare in their eyes. They weren't fools, they knew what Ethan was insinuating. "I don't think so." Joe grumbled, his aim keen on the man's heart. Hoss gave a curt nod of agreement, "That little gal's gone through hell because of you, why don't my brother and I stop all this?"
Ethan grinned, and motioned to the space behind them, "I'm not the only one interested in Nessa Warrick. If you are thinking about pulling those triggers, I suggest you think just a little bit longer. Ben glanced behind them, and watched four shadows approach, each armed. "Boys... Lets just do as the man says." Hoss begrudgingly lowered his weapon, but Joe was too far gone. His anger over what Ethan had said about Vanessa was too much to handle quietly.
Before anyone could speak, he flipped his gun around and pistol whipped Ethan across the face.
The man didn't even register the hit. His face did move, there wasn't a way that it couldn't, but when he turned back to look at Joe, his face hadn't changed. "That was a very stupid thing to do, boy." Ethan moved fast, and his first hit didn't even appear in Joe's field of vision. His second cut Joe under the chin and sent him flying backwards into his father. Ben couldn't grab him before he was on his feet again, and charging Ethan.
The two grappled for another minute or two, but it was Ethan who stood up when it was all over. Joe stayed on the ground, holding his arm and groaning. Ethan shook of the mud on his hands, and grabbed his gun out of the mud. "Now, INSIDE!" He kicked Joe in the chest, and waited until the fallen hero got to his knees. Ethan then knelt next to him, grabbed his hair and yanked his head back, "you really think I'm done with you? Just for that little show, you're gonna be the up front watching...even helping." Joe's eyes thinned, and he made to swing at the sinister man. Ethan shook him until the arm dropped and Joe looked like he was going to be sick.
Ethan looked up, and shouted at his followers, "get them inside..."
Adam was elated. The house loomed ahead of them in a shadowy mist...but something felt wrong. Where were their fathers, his brothers rushing out to meet them? Where were the dry blankets and warm beds for them to collapse in? Vanessa was breathing heavily next to him, her riding skirt now thickly encrusted with mud and underbrush. Her face was dirty from the few times that she'd fallen into the dirt and her hair was in a mass around her shoulders. "Oh thank god." she whispered, and found a renewed strength, "We've got to warn Papa." he grabbed her hand and turned her around. "Wait, there's something not quite..." he spoke too loud too late.
They were surrounded by four men quickly, each carrying a rifle. "Silence!" one man shouted at him, and waved his gun in their faces. Vanessa shrank back against Adam's shoulder, trying to appear strong. He could feel her shaking, maybe from the cold...but it was more likely from fear. These men were unknown to him, and the way they were acting... "Hello, Little One."
The voice came from behind him, and he turned on instinct. His arms went around Vanessa protectively, but she tried to not turn. She knew that voice, knew what she would see if she turned back around. Her voice was stronger than she felt as she spoke his name, her back straight and turned away from him.
"Ethan Lamb."