Adam...Ranger....Adam...Ranger...Adam....Ranger...Adam...Ranger...Adam..
Vanessa sat up in a cold sweat, the nightmare she was having too intense to deal with anymore. Her nightgown cling to her shaking body as she threw off the quilts and went to the inset window. Pulling her knees to her chest, she looked out the window to the lazy creek below her aunts property. She knew that she was facing west, and that a little more to the north than where she was looking was the Ponderosa...well, past the miles of open prairie and sky, but it was there. She sighed and leaned her head back against the wall.
What was she going to do?
Adam crossed his hands behind his head and stared up at the dark ceiling. His father was asleep on the bed across the room, snoring peacefully. It wasn't enough to keep him awake, but he was glad it was there. Something to blame his restlessness on, although he knew what was the real reason. He'd seen her tonight as he'd always seen her, a beautiful princess in a fairy tale, waiting for her knight in shining armor to come rescue her. He just hoped he could be that knight for her.
If only she knew what he did about this Ranger...
Vanessa closed her eyes, and tried not to focus on anything, but it was proving to be rather difficult. Her mind wandered, and soon she was asleep again...
A breeze played with her hair as she waited. She was leaning out of the window, watching the small lane that lead to the house. She had lost count of how long she had been up here, but she knew she wanted out...now! There were horse hooves on the cobbles and she put a hand up to shade her eyes from the blazing sunlight. The man on the horse below her sat tall in the saddle, his hat low, covering his face. She couldn't get a clear look at him when the door behind her banged open and someone grabbed her waist. "Get away from there." came a gruff voice, and she turned in the arms holding her to come face to face with her father. "Father?" she whispered, thoroughly confused. He smiled at her, his sad little smile that meant he couldn't do anything. "Yes, my little one, it's me..." His eyes moved to the window and the sounds that she could hear coming from below. She turned back to the window and saw that now two men were standing, waiting for her to do something. Nicholas Warrick stood next to her, and leaned against the casement, "Well, which will it be?" Vanessa looked at him surprised, "What? Why do I have to choose?" Nicholas took a deep breath, "Nessa my love, you know you can't go on like this. Adam loved you first, came back for you...twice, I might add, and you know that you feel something for him. No matter how you try to hide it, you love Adam. You always have, form that first night on the Ponderosa when the horses were spooked." he grinned at her, "My little one, you've got such a gift. Your mother taught you so much, she wouldn't want you to waste away here in New Orleans!" The man on the right below her raised his head, and she could finally see that it was Adam. His eyes were soft and inviting, his face lit by a smile...that smile he only gave to her. At least she liked to think so. Then the other man moved, and she saw that it was Ranger, his small son seated on the horse behind him. "I see him too, Nessa. But is he really what you want?" Vanessa swallowed, and closed her eyes. "I don't know father." She opened her eyes and looked back at the men watching her. Ranger was smiling broadly and waving to her, "Vanessa! Vanessa come down here! Matthew and I had a picnic planned..." Adam interrupted, "Nessa, let's go for a ride." Vanessa turned to her father, "I don't know if I can choose." Nicholas put his hands around his daughters face, "Oh, Nessa. Do yourself a favor..... Nessa, Nessa,"
"Nessa! Nessa! Nessa!" Elizabeth shouted at her cousin, shaking her shoulders violently. She'd heard Vanessa cry out a while ago and had found her seated on the window bench crying her eyes out. Vanessa finally woke, her face wet from crying. "Where...Liz! What are you..." she pushed her away and stood, "Liz what are you doing here?" Elizabeth shook her head and tightened her robe around her waist, "Nessa, I heard you shout in your sleep and I thought that you were having a nightmare." Nessa ran her fingers through her unbound hair and blinked rapidly. "I was...I think." Elizabeth blew out her breath, "You want to talk about it?" Vanessa shook her head and drew a breath, "No....I want to be alone." Elizabeth nodded and walked towards the door, "Are you sure?" she paused by the door and looked back at her cousin, "Yes, Elizabeth. Leave me alone." She heard the door close and dropped her head.
Adam smiled to himself, and turned over in his sleep... He and Vanessa were back on the Ponderosa, she was sitting in front of him as they galloped across the ranch. Her hair was loose and flying back across his chest. She was leaning back against him, one arm wrapped around his waist to hold him close .He reined Sport in on one of the bluffs overlooking the lake, and felt her take a deep breath. "Oh, Adam. It's beautiful!" He dismounted and helped her down. Her hands were on his shoulders, and as he lowered her, she let her body brush against his. Once her feet were on the ground, they stayed still for another full minute, nothing but the sounds of the birds overhead and Sports steady breathing. Her face was turned to him, and he could see that teasing glint she got whenever she was thinking too much. "What?" he asked, tightening his grip on her waist. They'd announced their engagement only a few days ago, and now they were finally alone. She giggled like a young girl, and tried to pull away but he wouldn't let her, "Adam...Adam, let me go!"
The scene changed and they were back in New Orleans, outside the dance hall. Her face wasn't loving anymore and it hurt him. But no more than that look in her eyes, a terrible mix of love and pain. Pain that he'd put there by not acting the way she'd wanted. She'd come back to Virginia City to beg his forgiveness, and instead she'd found him loving another woman. "Nessa..." he whispered, bringing a hand up to her cheek, "Nessa...Wait!" She was running away from him, and into the shadowy arms of another man. "Vanessa! I love you..." Adam sat up in bed and was breathing heavy. His father shifted in his sleep, but otherwise stayed that way. Adam shook his head and slid out of bed, grateful that he'd left his pants on. He went to the window, braced his arm against the casement and put his hand on his hip. The hotel wasn't far from Vanessa's aunts house, and there was a light on upstairs.