19 year-old Adam Cartwright watched with a stoic expression as Hop-Sing finished bandaging the head of his baby sister and move away, rolling the unused bandages and setting the by the bowl of water on the desk, just in case.
"Now we wait for little missy to wake up." Hop-Sing said as he patted Adam on the shoulder reassuringly and he made his way out of the door.
Once the door had closed Adam made his way over to the bed where he sat down in a chair, his eyes on his baby sister unconscious form flickering up to the bandage wrapped around her head.
Adam took her small hand in his own and he bowed his head as quiet sobs began to rack his body. "I'm so sorry." he whispered as he placed a gentle kiss on Jennys knuckles. "I'm so sorry." He repeated, "It's all my fault." He gently rubbed the back of her hand as the memory of what happened assaulted his mind.
Flashback:
"I said no, Jenny. Now that's the end of it!" Adam said firmly as he gazed down at his baby sister.
Jenny was wanting to go to the mercantile in town, but Adam didn't have time since he was watching over the ranch while his pa and brothers were gone to Sacramento on business, and the eight year-old was far to young to go by herself to Virginia City.
"But it's not fair! Pa said that we would go and I could pick out some fabric for a new dress for my doll!!" Jennifer argued, angry at her brother. She didn't understand why Adam wouldn't take her.
"I don't have the time today, Jennifer." Adam attempted to explain, "We can go Saturday. If you don't drop it we will just wait until pa gets home and then he can tale you." He threatened sternly.
This made Jennifer even more upset and she whimpered in frustration, she also had a silver dollar that she had been saving, she wanted to spend it on something for her eldest brother birthday, which was in two weeks. But of course, Adam couldn't know that, it was supposed to be a surprise.
"Fine!! I'll go alone!!!" Jennifer shouted and she darted out the door as she started to cry tears of anger.
She rushed outside to where her horse, Scout was already saddled and waiting. She had been so excited to go, she had saddled her mare so that they could go as soon as breakfast was over.
Adam followed behind her just in time to see Jenny kick Scout in his sides with her heels and it spurred the horse forward with a startled neigh and a slight buck, the mare was spooked and it caused Jenny to become unseated in her saddle.
Adam watched in horror as his baby sister fell of the horse and landed on the ground, her head striking a rock.
Flashback ends
Adam let out a quiet moan as the flashback ended and fresh tears began to fall, "Jenny sweetheart open your eyes." he begged as he silently prayed for God to spare his baby sister. "I'm so sorry." he sobbed out again.
He had sent Carlos into town to wire their pa, so he knew that Ben and the others would return soon.
Adam sat beside his baby sisters side most of the day praying for God to let her be alright, and appologizing for what he had done, leaving only to relive himself.
Adam had just finished the supper that Hop-Sing had brought up for him and he was standing there, looking out the window as he watched the sun begin to set when he heard a quiet, almost silent moan.
He spun around quickly and relief nearly choked him when he saw that Jennifer was now awake and he rushed to her bedside.
"Jenny sweet?" he asked as he set the cup of coffee down on the table by the bed, Adam nearly fainted in relief at the smile he received in return.
He placed a gentle hand on Jennys shoulder when she moved to sit uo, "Just rest sweetheart, you got a pretty nasty hit on the head when you fell from Scout."
"So that's why my head hurt," the eight year-old mused.
Adam couldn't help but chuckle, "Yes, that is why." he heard his baby sister stomach rumble and he couldn't help but smile. "Hungry?" he asked and he smiled again when Jenny nodded in response.
A few minutes later Adam helped Jenny sit up then he began to gently feed her the broth that Hop-Sing had prepared for her, once he had returned from the kitchen with a tray for her while the two quietly talked in between her eating.