A/N - Thank you all for following along and leaving comments. Those are what keep writers like myself going. I hope you enjoy this last chapter as Adam and Emily get everything sorted out and begin a new chapter in their lives.
Chapter 11
It was midafternoon when the three men rode into the yard of Adam's house. Johnny was relieved but perplexed to see the doctor's buggy wondering how Tip beat them there. He hollered for some help as Joe tried to dismount. He was pale and sweating from pain in his arm.
Adam was leaning so far forward on Sport he could just about roll off his horse. Johnny checked on him and found he was barely conscious. He was beginning to suspect Adam had a concussion.
Jake came from the barn and ran to help Joe off his horse just as he started to fall. Johnny got Adam down and had trouble getting his boss to put one foot in front of the other. Jake called again to the house for help.
Ben and Hoss came out and together they got Joe into the downstairs guest room. Adam collapsed on the sofa, not wanting to attempt the stairs. Johnny gave a quick recount of what had happened and that he thought Adam was showing signs of a concussion, then he and Jake left.
Hoss took a bowl of water and bandages in the bedroom for Joe. He reset Joe's arm and wrapped it to keep it stable until the doctor could look at it. Joe was able to tell Hoss a little of what he'd learned from Adam and about the fight before he finally gave into the pain and passed out.
Ben tended to Adam, cleaning his face and knuckles. Hoss came out and filled Ben in on what Joe had told him. Ben was shocked and angered that Adam had attacked Joe but Hoss suggested he should control those emotions until he could get the whole story.
Adam was delirious and drifted in and out of alertness. He kept mumbling about being sorry and worried, apologizing to Joe and Emily. Ben just watched helplessly, waiting for Adam to come around and to be able to talk about what had him so troubled.
After a while Adam settled down to a restless sleep so Ben and Hoss sat and waited. Several cries from upstairs shattered the silence and made Adam sit straight up. He tried to get off the sofa but with his head pounding like a bass drum and the world spinning all cock-eyed he couldn't get his bearings of up or down.
"Pa! Was that Emily? What's happening? Help me get upstairs."
Ben convinced Adam to sit and wait for his dizziness to pass. "Son, the baby's coming. Emily started having contractions just after I arrived. It may not be much longer and you'll be a father."
Adam's panicked expression made Ben keep a firm hand on his son. Suddenly, Adam dropped his head and started saying things Ben thought he'd never hear from his eldest son.
"I've failed her. I should have been here, not running off half-crazy across the ranch. I can't take care of my own wife. I can't protect her. She doesn't deserve to have me around." Adam stood and staggered over to the door. Hoss moved quickly to block the door and placed his big hands on Adam's arms. Adam looked up to see Hoss' blue eyes ignite with anger.
"Where do ya think you're goin'? You have a wife up there that's having your baby. She needs you now and will always need ya. You need to pull yerself together and start acting like her husband and like the man that you are. I won't hear no more talk of you being a failure, Adam. You've been there for that gal every time she needed ya. When that Jason fella got to her and when his crazy sister 'bout done ya both in. Emily said you saved her life when that Charlotte woman shot at her."
Hoss could feel Adam relaxing and starting to slip out of his hands so he helped his brother back to the sofa. Adam sat cradling his head, visibly shaking. Ben leaned in and spoke softly to him. "Adam, what's got you so troubled? Tell us what happened with you and Joe."
In a slow whisper Adam told his father about the nightmares and how they had affected his reasoning. He felt he had failed in being able to protect Emily, to keep her safe over and over whenever the Landrys were involved. And losing so much sleep only made his lack of reasoning worse. He knew he needed to tell someone but the longer it went on the harder it was to talk about. Joe had confronted him. Adam knew his brother spoke the truth but all he could think about was shutting him up. Adam didn't want to face the truth that he needed help from his family to deal with all that had happened to him and Emily at the hands of the Landrys.
"When I saw Joe get hurt because of me, something snapped. All of a sudden I didn't know where I was or how I got there. The last several weeks are a blur, Pa. I guess hearing Joe cry out in pain and needing me brought me back to my senses." He paused to take a deep shuddering breath. His head was starting to pound. "Pa, I'm sorry for all the pain I caused everyone, especially Emily. I love her and you know I'd never do anything to hurt her."
"I know son and she knows that too. She never gave up on you, none of us did."
Another cry drifted down the stairs. Then a different cry was heard. One of a baby. All three men looked at each other. Adam stared dumbfounded at the stairs too afraid to move. A half hour later Paul appeared on the landing with a bundle in his arms. He descended slowly and finally reached the sofa. Ben stood and took the sleeping infant from Paul.
"Say hello to your granddaughter, Ben."
He couldn't believe how light she felt and that he was actually holding his grandchild. Holding her brought back so many memories of holding each of his sons. The slight movement of transferring her to Ben woke her up. She lay there staring at him with the lightest blue eyes he'd ever seen. They reminded Ben of Elizabeth's eyes. Hoss peered over his shoulder. "Aw, ain't she sweet. Pa, her eyes are lighter than mine." She began to fuss a bit so Ben cooed at her. Seeing Adam watching him intently, Ben stepped over and carefully placed the child in Adam's arms then looked at Paul waiting for the details. Paul was too busy studying Adam trying to figure out what had happened to him, then realized they were all waiting for more news about the baby and Emily.
"Adam, congratulations. You and Emily have a healthy daughter. And Emily is just fine. She's exhausted but fine. Elsa's tending to her and I'll need to take the child back to her mother in a few minutes. You'll be able to go up to them in just a little while. At that time I think it best you both get some rest. Ben it would be good for both of them to have their dinner in the room."
Ben nodded and told Paul about Joe. Paul went to check on Joe giving the family some privacy.
Hoss sat by Adam mesmerized by the tiny infant in his brother's arms.
"Well, ain't no surprise she's got your black hair. I can't get over how pretty her eyes are. Have you and Emily got a name all picked out?"
Adam remained silent. Using his index finger he gently traced the baby's cheek and soft pink lips. Then he let one of her tiny hands curl around his long finger. He rocked slowly side to side as he began to hum. Ben and Hoss moved away letting Adam bond with his daughter. After a while, Paul returned and took her back upstairs so Emily could nurse her.
An hour later the family was invited upstairs to greet Emily and the baby. Adam balanced stiffly on the bed as Ben and Hoss spoke briefly to Emily then left. Elsa and Paul followed them out.
Emily was concerned about Adam's bruised face and sunken eyes. He refused to look at her, keeping his eyes on the cradle and his sleeping daughter. She reached for his arm and squeezed it.
"Adam." Her voice was soft and full of love. "Come lay by me and rest. I need to have you near me right now."
Adam slowly turned his head to look at her and saw only love in her storm blue eyes. He changed to some sleeping pants and slipped under the covers next to his wife. She snuggled under his arm, laying her head on his shoulder.
Feeling the tension in his body she slowly caressed his arm and chest. After a few minutes she felt his fingers working through her damp hair. Emily sensed him relaxing and heard his heart rate slow down.
"Adam, I'd like to tell everyone our baby's name. Are we still choosing our mothers' names?"
Adam took a few moments to respond. "I'd like to make a small change. Instead of Mary Elizabeth, I'd like to call her Rosemary Elizabeth. When I held her downstairs she made me think of the roses Marie had grown. Her skin was as soft as the petals and her lips the color of the flowers."
"That's a wonderful idea. Shall we call her Rosemary or Rosie?"
"Rosie, like her mother's lips." He rose up on one elbow and kissed Emily, then settled back down against the pillows. In a few more minutes, husband and wife were asleep.
Adam awoke an hour later to a darkening room and the cries of their baby. Shaking the sleep from his head he found the dizziness was gone but his head still ached. He lit a lamp and instinctively moved to the cradle to pick up his daughter. She was quite wet but her crying stopped as soon as she heard her father's gentle voice. Adam changed her and the bedding with remembered expertise, recalling all those times when Hoss and Joe were babies.
When he reached the bed, Emily smiled as she took their daughter. "You did that very well for a beginner."
"I had a lot of training taking care of Hoss and Joe. I'm a bit rusty but I think I put the diaper on right." He smirked as he brushed Rosie's soft black hair.
"If that's your rusty mode I can't wait to see expertise." Adam chuckled as he went to clean up the room moving slowly so as not to make his head pound any more than it already was.
Hearing her husband's deep throated chuckle warmed Emily's heart. She watched him shyly, knowing she needed to feed Rosie. Adam soon joined his wife and child on the bed.
"Adam, I need to feed Rosie. I'd like to you stay but would you be comfortable as I feed her?"
Adam smiled. "Sweetheart, with two younger brothers I understand what is natural for a mother to do. I love you and our daughter. I would never be uncomfortable when you have to feed her."
Emily nodded shyly. She turned to Rosie and began feeding her. Adam was nearly brought to tears at the beauty of watching the joining of mother and child. At that moment he felt more in love with his wife than ever before.
Once Rosie was fed and sleeping again, Adam made his way halfway down the stairs before his dizziness came back. Paul looked up and saw Adam swaying. He got to the steps just in time to keep him from falling.
"You need to be lying down Adam, and especially not trying to negotiate those stairs. Lie down here and let me look at you."
Adam tried to wave Paul off but didn't have the strength. "Make it quick Paul. I just came down to let Elsa know Emily and I are ready for dinner. Ow! What are you trying to do to me?"
"I'm trying to examine my patient. I see you have a sore neck, dizziness, and you're right jaw is swollen. That must be where Joe hit you and it snapped your head back. Am I right?"
Sore and irritated, Adam could only nod.
"Therefore, my diagnosis is that you have a mild concussion and you need to be in bed sleeping. That will also be the cure for your exhaustion that I can see in your eyes, your posture and your shaking hands. Elsa has a tray ready for you and Emily. I'll get Hoss to help you back upstairs. Then I don't want to see you down here again until tomorrow evening. Am I making myself clear?"
Adam knew he'd been overruled. "Understood. Um, how is Joe? Can I see him for a minute?"
"Just for a minute. Hoss is with him helping him eat."
Together, doctor and patient made their way into the guest room. Joe was propped up in bed eating while Hoss held his plate. Joe looked up in mid bite and grinned.
"Hey brother. Glad to see you up and about. Feeling better? When do I get to meet my niece?"
"Hey Joe. You don't seem to be any worse for wear. How's your arm?"
"Paul said it'll heal just fine. He said Hoss did a great job setting it. I won't be working for a while so I can come visit my niece a lot over the next few weeks."
Adam groaned and leaned heavily against the door frame. Joe's bright smile darkened to concern for his brother.
Paul noticed and quickly explained. He knew Joe felt guilty for hitting his brother so hard. "It's nothing a day in bed won't fix. You two can spend more time together tomorrow. Hoss help Adam get back upstairs. I need to tell Elsa to bring the tray. Joe you rest too after you finish eating."
"Yes sir. Hey Adam, what's the baby's name anyway?"
As Ben made his presence known behind Adam, Adam smiled proudly and told his family. "Rosemary Elizabeth. Mary and Elizabeth for our mothers and Rose for the roses Marie used to grow. We'll call her Rosie." Adam saw the misty look in his father's eyes and knew they'd chosen well.
Despite the pleasure Adam felt after revealing his daughter's name it all became too much for him. He started to slide down the wall as his exhaustion took over. Hoss caught him and guided him upstairs to his bed. Elsa followed with the tray. Hoss and Elsa stayed for a short visit while they ate, then left them to rest.
Adam and Emily lay quietly in their bed with arms around each other. Adam finally broke the silence.
"Emmie, I'm so sorry for all the hurt I caused you over these last weeks. I was having nightmares about Jason and Charlotte. I just couldn't get them out of my head. I kept reliving all of it. I also felt I'd let you down. I didn't protect you like I'm supposed to. It really scared me when I saw you lying on the floor in the shack and all that blood behind you. I thought I'd lost you and I had failed to keep you safe." He drew her tightly to him and began to release all the emotions that had built up inside of him.
Emily remained still until Adam had calmed down. When he pulled back and she was able to look at him her face was as tear-stained as his. He started to speak but she brushed her fingers against his lips.
"Adam, I have always felt safe with you. There was never a time when I ever thought I couldn't depend on you to be there for me. Somehow I knew that when I first saw you sitting in that cafe in Sacramento. I was shaken by someone following me and I needed help. That's when I saw this very handsome and very nicely dressed man sitting by himself with all kinds of papers spread out in front of him, and his food getting cold. I knew I had to meet you and I felt that you were someone I could trust. I couldn't believe you were so cordial to me even though I was so forward with you." She giggled at the memory then turned serious again. "That time we spent together made me feel the safest I'd felt in a long time.
Adam smirked, "I was rather taken aback by your forwardness but having been captured by the beauty in your eyes and hearing your concerns, I decided you were more important than any proprietary concerns." He leaned in and kissed her.
She reached over to the nightstand and picked up a necklace. It was a silver heart with two small sapphires inside.
"Adam, do you remember what you said when you gave me this necklace for my birthday that year? You told me the two stones were me and you."
"I said it meant that I'm never far away."
Emily waited patiently for that to sink in.
Adam took the necklace in his hand then looked sideways at Emily. "You are a sly lady Emily Cartwright and I love you very much."
"I love you, too. And I know in my heart that you will never be far away from me."
They snuggled together for a few more minutes until Rosie woke up. Once she was fed and sleeping again, Adam and Emily fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.
Adam's recovery had begun, both physically and emotionally. For the first couple of days Adam and Emily slept nearly as much as little Rosemary Elizabeth. Of course Rosie saw to it he and Emily awoke every couple of hours during the night but after she went back to sleep, so did Adam. When they were awake, they marveled at the wonder of their daughter, and they talked about all Adam had held inside him. It was a healing time for both of them. Little Rosie turned out to be their light in a dark tunnel. As their days (and nights) were filled with her, there was little room for anything else. Joe had stayed for a couple of days so he and Adam could talk about their brotherly skirmish, as Hoss had started calling it, and also so he could get to know his niece better. They also began to make plans for starting their own business of horse breeding which would become reality by next year.
By the end of August, a month after Rosie was born, Adam had fully recovered and was his old self again. Even his limp was gone. He and Emily were getting good at caring for Rosie. She was a calm and easy baby. She would love for Emily to walk her around but it was Adam who put her to bed at night since Rosie had grown accustomed to his lullabies.
There was also another round of excitement going through the Cartwright family. Elsa's and Hoss' wedding had been set for the end of September. Emily's father, Henry, had arrived from New York as soon as he'd gotten the telegram inviting him to come see his granddaughter. Theodore and Carla had also arrived from Sacramento and were staying at Ben's house. Both Cartwright houses were filled with guests and happy chatter.
On a warm Autumn morning a stray breeze rolled down the hillside to brush against the small circle of friends and family gathered on the edge of Lake Tahoe. The sky was as deep an azure blue as the lake itself. It was a blue reflected in Hoss' eyes as he stood on the shore and said his vows to Elsa Larsson. After sharing their promises of love and exchanging rings, Hoss took his bride into his arms, gave her a gentle but passionate kiss, then swung her around as everyone cheered.
After a grand celebration at the Ponderosa homestead, Hoss drove Elsa up to a small, secluded cabin a few miles from the main house. It was the first Cartwright home and had been refurbished and given to Adam and Emily for their wedding night. Now it was a surprise given by Adam and Emily for Hoss and Elsa's special night. With a conspiratorial wink, Adam told Hoss it was the best way to get his marriage started off right. Hoss blushed so brightly everyone in the room broke out laughing. But after the first night, Hoss never questioned Adam's wisdom again.
That same night as Hoss and Elsa were discovering their love for each other, Adam and Emily were snuggled together in the swing on their front porch enjoying the warm evening. Henry had volunteered to take care of Rosie for the evening giving her parents some much appreciated time alone.
"Mmm, it's a nice evening."
"Yes it is. There seems to be more stars out tonight."
"It's the lack of a moon."
"Oh, I suppose so."
"I owe you an apology."
"Oh?"
"I didn't dance with you enough tonight."
"You didn't?"
"No, I feel I neglected my beautiful wife."
"I see. And what do you propose to do to make it up to me?"
"Would you allow me the honor of this dance milady?"
"Adam, not here. Someone will see."
"There's just you and me and the stars, my love."
"Mmm…"
"How about this….and this….?"
"Oh, now you've got my attention, kind sir."
"I believe... it's a nice night ...for a true apology, my dear."
'Whatever you say. You have my complete devotion."
"I'll be forever devoted to you my sweet."
"And never far away."
"Mmm...Never….far….away."
The End
