16

Forsyth denied all wrongdoing relating to both Ultima's tar and feathering and to the rape and murder of Amanda. His lawyer argued to have all the charges dropped since there was really no proof, just a leading conversation between Forsyth and Ultima that lent itself to interpretation.

"I was merely taking advantage of the unfortunate incident to perhaps convince Mrs. Cartwright to sell me some of her shares and as for the threat she claims I made implying I would injure her or someone she cared about, why I deny such an utterance." Forsyth was released but before he could leave town, was packing in his hotel room, Sheriff Coffee approached him and informed him that he needed to remain in town for another day; he had just received a wire from Reno that suggested Forsyth's involvement in Amanda Stiles' murder and Roy also suggested that Forsyth again contact his lawyer.

A young man known by the name of Max Zack was arrested in Reno for trying to rob a hardware store. While under arrest, he consulted with the public defender who said that if the charge would be dropped, Zack would give testimony about a young girl's accidental murder near Virginia City—tell all he knew and implicate the person who was behind it—a wealthy man by the name of Forsyth. Once Max was brought into town and taken to Sheriff Coffee, the young man told how a few weeks ago, he was hired by someone named Curly to make friends with a young girl who worked for the Cartwrights; Max didn't know her name at the time, just that a certain Mr. Forsyth wanted him to become friendly with her because domestic servants knew secrets about their employers and Forsyth wanted to know something scandalous about either Mr. or Mrs. Cartwright, something worthy to hold over them. Forsyth, through Curly, paid him ten dollars a week.

Max had ridden by the Cartwright home a few times, even waiting beyond the tree line upon occasion, before he finally found the girl outside one afternoon and started a friendship. Then Max received instructions from Forsyth that he was to lure Miss Amanda Stiles—that was her name-to town where he was to take her for a ride into the country for a picnic. Forsyth, along with two other hired men, one he didn't know, the other being Curly, took the young woman aside once Max and she were far on the edge of the Ponderosa and Forsyth asked her for information that he could use to blackmail either or both of the Cartwrights.

As Max related events, Amanda was not forthcoming; she claimed the Cartwrights were nice people and that nothing unusual happened in the house. The two men slapped her many times but all she did was cry. Forsyth berated her, threatened her, offered Amanda money to make something up, say that Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright had unusual practices but nothing. Then, on Forsyth's orders, the young woman was dragged into the bushes and stripped where all three of them except Forsyth, had their way with her but he threatened to have the acts repeated throughout the day unless she talked.

Amanda had sobbed and said that she knew nothing bad about her employers; they were good to her, and then Forsyth gave orders again and Amanda said please, for them to stop—she would say anything he wanted her to say. Forsyth asked if she would confess that Adam Cartwright sodomized her. She asked what that was and Forsyth just shook his head. He called her a hopeless, stupid girl and said that she was of no use to him; she couldn't even convince anyone the sky was blue. She begged for them to let her go, swore to say nothing about what had happened.

The young man related to Sheriff Coffee, that Forsyth nodded to one of the men, the short man with a scar across one cheek and the bridge of his nose, and he pulled out a knife and from behind the girl, slit her throat. Max quoted Forsyth as saying as he looked at her body, damn right you won't talk. Then they were told to drag her over near the path the Cartwright's used. One of them tied her ankles and then tied the rope to his saddle and dragged her behind his horse. The young man said that he was scared—he hadn't been told someone would be killed so he took his fifty dollars and headed for Reno. He spent all his money on whores and champagne and was soon again broke. That was why he had tried to rob the hardware store but he would testify against Forsyth if the law would go easy on him for his part.

That was where it stood and Ultima had wept and grieved over Amanda's death, blaming herself. "I would have sold all my shares to Forsyth—given them to him had I known what he would do." Adam didn't know how to console his wife as he felt that anything he could say would be inadequate; he too felt responsibility and guilt hang heavily upon him.

Adam had made the funeral arrangements and Amanda was buried in Virginia City's graveyard next to the church and every Sunday before services, Ultima placed fresh flowers from her garden on the grave and Adam would stand at a polite distance and wait for his wife. He was determined to always be there if Ultima needed him and Forsyth's trial would be coming up in two weeks. Adam knew that Ultima would probably be called. He dreaded that time when she would have to tell the world about her conversations with Forsyth and then describe what had happened to her. He tried to discuss her feelings about testifying but she refused and it was all he could do not to lose his temper with her obstinacy.

The evenings were becoming cool—fall was coming and the air, although still, brought a chill though the open bedroom window.

"Adam," Ultima asked, rolling over on her back and stretching, "when you leave, would you close the window?"

They had lain together and now the clock struck 10:00 in the evening.

"Yes," Adam answered. Today had been the last day of Forsyth's trial and Ultima had taken the news of the guilty verdict calmly. Roy Coffee had ridden out and joined Adam and Ultima for dinner while he gave the news. Forsyth had received thirty years but was going to appeal; he had an expensive big-city lawyer and there had been errors during the trial that might overturn the verdict or force a new trial. Ultima said nothing, made no comment-just continued to pick at her food.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cartwright," Roy had said, "You may be called to testify again. Forsyth's lawyer also wants a change of venue—claims his client can't get a fair trial here."

Ultima calmly replied. "If I am required to testify again, I will—no matter where it is. I owe that much to Amanda." But Adam noticed that her hand was unsteady as she took up her water glass.

And that evening when Adam had gone to his wife and taken her in his arms, Adam felt as if for only the second time in their marriage—the first being their first night together—that Ultima was only doing her wifely duty and now there was the window comment. Adam knew it was her way of asking him to leave.

Adam rose from the bed and went to the window and pulled down the casement. He looked out into the darkness, one hand on the wall.

"Winter will cover that beautiful garden with snow," he said.

"But in the spring they'll come back." Ultima looked at her husband's profile and again noted how tender his mouth looked—how very gentle and vulnerable. Then Adam turned and looked at her.

"What about us, Ultima?"

"What do you mean?"

He walked over to the bed and she sat up.

"Will we ever be back to the way we were? We didn't marry for love—both of us know that—but I always thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. It makes things more pleasant for a man when the woman underneath him is easy on the eyes—although there is a way around it. But sometimes the posterior is none too nice either and in that case, a man just closes his eyes." Ultima smiled at the bawdy comment; it was like Adam to try to diffuse a tense moment to make things easier for her—and himself. Adam grinned gently at her. Then he extended his hand and stroked her cheek. "So fair of face—so lovely. Ultima, I've grown to…" Adam chuckled and rose from the bed, going back to the window; it made it easier to speak his heart. "I can't find the words to express my feelings, I've kept them hidden for so long. I wanted to make you happy that you married me, wanted to surround you with beauty and so I made the garden. For you, Ultima. I designed this house and built it-for you." He sighed heavily. He turned to face her. "I do love you, Ultima—although that word is inadequate to capture my true emotions. I can't find the words—no poetry, no song—nothing. My feelings for you are ineffable; I don't quite understand them myself."

Ultima looked at his face in the shadows of the night, the half-smile, his gentle expression when he looked at her and her voice caught in her throat. "Adam, we're both adults—it's not necessary for us to talk to one another as moon-struck lovers. Our arrangement suits me and I have tried my best to be a good wife to you. I do not deny you my bed and I support you…"

"Damn it, Ultima!" He strode to the bed and grabbed her up by her upper arms, looking into her face; she was surprised and he thought he saw a glimmer of fear. "I said that I loved you. Doesn't that mean anything to you? Don't you even care? Don't you want to be loved?" She looked at him and then she broke into tears and he sat and pulled her to him. "All right, all right, I'm sorry…I…" He stroked her dark hair.

"Oh, Adam," she sobbed. "I…I do love you. I just…oh, Adam…it's difficult for me to…I know I seem cold but oh, my darling." And she surrendered her mouth to him and her body—again-and this time, Adam felt her urgency, her desire and her need.

Ultima lay quietly in her husband's arms in the dark. It seemed that all the fear and anxiety of the past few months had dissolved away and she looked forward to the future—especially now with the spring coming after the snow.

And Adam was content; Ultima had gently kissed his throat before she had settled her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. But what had made his heart sing was when she had whispered to him, "You are what I want, husband—you are who I need beside me and, Adam…I love you." And Adam knew she meant it.

~ Finis ~