Til Death Do Us Part

by MissjudyK

This story has four sections and follows Adam as he begins a new life in Boston. He is engaged, working as an engineer and singing in a prestigious choir. Wedding plans move quickly when Ben sends news that he will be stopping for a visit. Nothing goes easy for the Cartwrights and this is no different. Adam and Ben still make a great team as they face new trials

4. Til Death Do Us Part - Part 4

Part Four

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Adam Cartwright, of the Boston Cartwrights

One

New Life as Husband and Wife

A single lamp remained lit downstairs as Adam entered Melinda's house. He'd spent a lot of time in the downstairs rooms of this residence through the years, but he'd never gone up to the bedrooms. Since the floor plan seemed much like Abel's, he figured he'd find his way yet he didn't want to frighten his new wife by just appearing out of the darkness, so he called, "Hey, Mrs. Cartwright, where are you?"

"Up here in the last room on the left. Bring the lamp so you can see."

He did as she'd suggested and found her propped against a pile of pillows, reading with the light of a bedside lamp.

She jumped from the bed to greet him with a kiss. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me, Mr. Cartwright."

Adam took a step back into the shadows and extinguished the flame in his lamp so Melinda wouldn't see the color rising in his cheeks. "How could I forget having such a lovely bride?" He hoped his voice sounded convincing. Nodding toward the lamp, he asked, "Where do you want this?"

She put the light fixture on a table outside the door and then led him to the edge of the bed where she ordered her husband to sit. "You look spent, Adam. Are you feeling all right?" After checking his forehead with her cheek, she concluded, "You're warm and your skin seems a little flushed, but you don't have a fever."

"I feel fine. It's just been a long day." He kicked off his boots, tugged his shirt free of his pants, and sighed as weariness covered him like a blanket. He came back to life quickly as Melinda went around the bed, moved up behind him and began kneading his shoulders. "That feels good," he groaned, "thank you."

She stopped the massage after a few minutes, and kissed the top of his head after tousling his curls. "Why don't you stretch out, get comfortable and relax for a few minutes."

"That's probably a good idea," he yawned as he lay down. "There are a few things I'd like to talk with you about before we turn in."

"Like what?"

He adopted a serious look. "First of all, do you like your ring or will we need to visit the jeweler on Monday?"

"She held her hand out to see the ring glisten in the lamplight. "This is never coming off my finger. It's perfect."

Adam took her hand and examined the ring from several angles. "It's a beautiful ring for a beautiful woman."

Melinda stroked his cheek. "How did you know I wouldn't want a traditional wedding band?"

"When I was choosing that ring in Sacramento, the jeweler kept chattering about a beautiful woman who was watching through the window. I didn't look up because I just wanted to buy something and get out of there. After I picked one, he prattled on about how the woman outside approved my choice. Then," his voice took on a sad tone, "when we recognized each other outside the store later, I realized that you were the beautiful woman who'd been watching. I couldn't forget the hurt look in your eyes when the jeweler came out and handed me that ring box." He sighed as he shook off the memory and smiled again. "I figured that wasn't a moment either of would want to remember during our wedding and decided that there was a better part of that day to celebrate instead."

"You never cease to amaze me, Adam. I thought sure you'd forgotten the bracelet…and the conversation." She thought a moment and asked, "Is that it or are there more issues you need to discuss."

"There are more," he grinned devilishly, "let's see, I sleep on the side of the bed closest to the door, whichever side that is; I keep a window open at night—at least a little even when it's cold; I sleep in the…ah, I don't wear a nightshirt, and I often leave my dirty socks on the floor. Can you tolerate all that?"

"So far, I have no problems. I'll just sleep next to you wherever that is since I have no side preference; I like the window open too; I think I shall enjoy having you next to me without a nightshirt, and I won't pick up your socks. You'll have to do that at least once a month so we don't trip over the pile."

"I knew I liked you," he touched her face and then let his fingers drift down her neck and slip into the open v of her robe's neckline. "I see that you aren't encumbered by night clothes."

Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial volume. "Don't ever tell my mother, but Aunt Lynne always said that the one thing a woman shouldn't scrimp on was bed linens. She always sent away for the finest fabric and said she couldn't see any reason for putting anything between her body and her expensive sheets. Her bedtime motto was…" Melinda blushed, "sleep free and always keep a robe handy for emergencies."

"Sounds practical…and scandalous. Do you endorse your aunt's theory?"

Melinda nodded. "Of course I traveled so much the last few years that it wasn't possible, so it's something I'm getting used to again." She abruptly changed the subject. "So have I assuaged your concerns in such a way that you won't be seeking an annulment tomorrow?"

Adam drew his wife down on the bed next to him and turned on his side to look into her eyes. "There are a few actual things I feel strongly about, Melinda. I want to have children—however many we're given. When we do let's not ever forget that we are lovers as well as parents. I think it's important that we not fall into the traps of calling each other ma and pa or thinking of each other as little more than the furniture in our home. Promise that we'll always look at each other as we are at this moment, and want each other as much as we do tonight."

After Melinda indicated her agreement with a kiss, he added, "One more thing. I've lived with men my whole life. Be honest with me if any of my habits seem intolerable. In fact be honest about everything. I don't want you to ever hold your thoughts inside or let them brew without saying what's on your mind."

She rolled him onto his back and kissed him again. "I'm going to like being married to you. I'll poke you if your behavior gets too crude, and ask that you don't let the little things build up to big things before we talk about them either. Lloyd couldn't face that he was in trouble and destroyed everything instead of telling Miranda what was wrong. I don't ever want to realize that we've let the little annoyances of married life become too big to get around." She kissed him deeply. "And speaking of children, maybe we should get working on that?"

"I think we should."

Melinda pushed Adam down when he tried to sit up. "And about that…it's my turn to tell you just a couple of things." She laughed as his eyes widened, but her tone turned serious. "I know you're more worldly than I am, Adam, but I wanted to have some idea of what to expect tonight."

He touched her cheek gently. "I'm not as 'worldly' as you might think I am, Melinda."

"I don't want to know anything about that. You're mine now and nothing that happened before matters. However, I didn't want you to be disappointed with me, so I did some research." Noting that his eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline, she laughed again. "Not that kind of research, Adam. I just asked other women their thoughts about their wedding night and did some reading."

His brows returned to their normal positions and then headed downward into a look of bewilderment. "Women talk openly about such things?"

"Of course they do. You told me once that you were shocked when Laura spoke to you about her wedding night, so the fact that other women talk too shouldn't be a surprise. What I found out was that some women think of what we're about to do as a marital duty or a wifely burden. I think they feel that way because they were told it was what to expect. Others were so unprepared on their wedding night that they were nearly scared to death when things started to…ah…come up..." She blushed deeply. "Not that I know what happens…exactly…but I have an idea about what to expect—in here." She pointed to her head.

Adam grinned broadly. "So where do you stand on your wifely duty?"

"I don't see it that way, or at least I don't think I will if it's as good as others have told me it is. A lot more women truly like this part of being a wife and say that marital unions can be very…satisfying."

The grin widened to a toothy smile. "Believe me, darlin', it can be more than satisfying. It can raise the roof a few inches off the top of the house, and curl your toes if done right. Shall we do a little research of our own now?"

"Absolutely, but…um…there's one more thing. I received an unsolicited manuscript at work that described the qualities of good marital…um…coupling."

Adam laughed loudly. "Coupling?"

"Don't laugh at me, Adam. That's what the author called it, and while it wasn't the kind of book we'd ever publish, I did make a few notes before I sent it back."

"Notes?"

"Yes, several pages of notes. I was wondering whether you would mind if now and then we try some of what the book suggested."

Adam hadn't felt this excited about diving into something since the day he and his brothers had taken on Jigger Thurman's bull in Virginia City. He wanted to jump up and shout for joy that his new wife was not only willing to enjoy "marital coupling," but was open to a little exploration as well. He closed his eyes as he savored the moment.

Her voice and lip trembled on the verge of tears, "You're shocked and repulsed by what I just said, aren't you?"

His eyes popped back open. "I am neither of those things. In fact I was just giving thanks. You are the most incredible woman I have ever known." He sat up. "Maybe I should get undressed and experience just how good these expensive sheets feel."

The tears passed as Adam's remarks allowed Melinda's good-humored lustiness to return. She pushed him down a second time. "Oh no you don't. You may think that my ring was your wedding gift to me, but tonight you are my gift and I get to unwrap you and see what's under the paper."

He tugged on the end of the bow that held her robe together. It slithered open, loosening the silky fabric and sending it cascading from her shoulders. He whistled as his breathing accelerated, "Using your analogy, I think I just unwrapped my gift, and may I say, wow! It's perfect."

Melinda beamed with the compliment and opened his tie and the top button of his shirt, placing a kiss on his neck.

Adam closed his eyes and sighed with pleasure as he thought, This is a sweet touch, and quite pleasant.

By the time she'd opened the third button, he was thinking, whoa! This is more than pleasant, this is…well it's a lot more than pleasant. He squirmed a little, causing Melinda to ask if there was anything wrong. He answered, "Nothing at all," as he attempted to smile while holding his breath.

The warmth of her breath and the softness of Melinda's lips on his skin as each button came undone kept Adam doing multiplication tables and several other mathematical functions to keep from reacting too fully. He also mentally criticized his choice of shirts for the day, bemoaning the number of buttons on the "special order" item that promised to keep a man looking put-together no matter the activity. I bet they never envisioned this activity, he chuckled silently.

Melinda neared the last button while Adam was having a harder time concentrating on other things. He finally ordered himself to sing something with lots of words. He was mentally singing, Oh do you remember, as the final fastener yielded. He relaxed and was congratulating himself on his self-control when Melinda undid the buckle of his belt and the first button of his trousers.

Two

Ghosts of Weddings Past

Abel and Ben returned from walking Sadie home and headed up the stairs. The older man followed his son-in-law into Elizabeth's bedroom and picked up the portrait of his daughter from the dresser.

Ben asked, "Is something wrong, Abel? You look puzzled."

Abel asked quietly, "Do you think that those who've passed know what's going on down here, Ben?"

"I've often wondered about it. There were times when I sensed the presence of boys' mothers during their illnesses or celebrations of their accomplishments. Those incidents made me wonder whether earthly bonds are fully broken when a mother is taken from her young child." Ben saw Abel's sad smile and added, "What makes you ask?"

"I think I felt a little of what you just mentioned today during the wedding. I know that Elizabeth wasn't there, yet at one point, I actually looked for her among the guests. I suppose I'm getting old and daft."

Ben put his hands on Abel's shoulders. "Don't think that, Abel. As I handed the ring to Seth, I thought I smelled Elizabeth's perfume but decided it was the fragrance of the arbor flowers renewing old memories."

Both men remained quiet until their attention was drawn toward the open window as they heard a loud voice from the house next door. Ben asked, "Was that Adam?"

Abel grinned. "Sounded like he shouted, sweet Betsy from Pike."

Ben grinned slyly at Abel as he moved to shut the window. "Are you looking forward to being married again?"

"I am. I love Sadie, and while I suspect I won't have as much fun on my wedding night as my grandson seems to be having, it will be wonderful to have someone by my side again. Adam's being with me again has been a blessing I hadn't dared hope for those years he was away. Yet he needs to get along with his life now, and with Sadie, I will do the same."

They bid each other goodnight as Abel exited, closing the door behind him. Ben looked over the decorative bottles on Elizabeth's dresser, placed as they'd been on the day Adam had been born. He picked up the one he was looking for—the Parisian Nights cologne he'd given her for Christmas 37 years ago—the same scent he'd noted during Adam's wedding. He expected the essence in the bottle would be foul-smelling after so many years, but it was still as it had been, evoking sweet memories of his first wife. He looked upward, whispering, "It was a beautiful wedding, wasn't it, Elizabeth?"

Three

Raising the Roof

"You're dewy, my dear lady," Adam teased as he trailed a rivulet of perspiration that ran from Melinda's cheek down to her shoulder.

"That's hardly, dew," Melinda quipped. "It's just plain old sweat, and it's hardly ladylike."

He raised himself up on his elbow and smiled down at her. "It seems that you enjoyed your first call to marital duty."

"Yes I did…very much." She hesitated, but decided that Adam wouldn't be upset at her naiveté, and asked, "But how do you know that I did?"

"Hmmm. It might have been that you cuffed me in the head and told me not to stop when I had to stretch a cramp from my back.

She sat up looking shocked. "I hit you? I don't remember hitting you."

"You did. And then there's the fact that you were purring and growling."

"Purring?" she asked sheepishly. "You mean like a cat?"

"Louder and deeper than a plain old cat. I'd say more like a tigress."

Tears welled in her eyes as she sobbed, "I'm sorry I was so dreadful, Adam. I really wanted it to be wonderful for you and then I end up acting like a madwoman and ruined everything."

Adam eased her back down to the pillow, turned her onto her side, and pulled the sheet up to cover them. He drew her tightly against him as he spoke softly in her ear, "Melinda, darling, you did everything perfectly tonight. A woman making love to her husband for the first time should release her passion and allow it to crescendo to completion just as you did. Best of all, you trusted me and allowed me to help you through your first experience to make it as powerful for you as for me. Making love to you gave me more pleasure than I have ever known before, and If I'm being truthful, I'm pretty sure I was acting like a madman myself at times. I am a fortunate and happy man."

She dried her tears on the hem of the sheet and giggled, "I did hear you shouting with some gusto." As she snuggled her head into the crook of his arm, she shivered with the memory of what had just transpired. "All I know is that I've never felt anything like that in my life, Adam. Did we raise the roof?"

"I think it lifted at least two inches," he teased, "and I promise it will go even higher the next time. But we need to rest a little now. It's been a long and wonderful day for both of us." He groaned as he realized the lamp was still burning on the table next to the bed and made a weak attempt to reach it without moving. He curled his arm back around her and sighed, "I know I should get up and snuff that, but I'm too comfortable right now. I think we're both sleepy enough that it won't matter."

Melinda nestled more tightly as she admitted, "I've kept a lamp burning at night since the kidnapping. Waking up in that dark room is the only thing that still bothers me."

Adam yawned. "I promise that you'll never have to worry about that again." He kissed the top of her head before settling into his pillow. As he closed his eyes, he confessed softly, "Having you here in my arms, and holding your hand while we sleep is something that I've looked forward to for a very long time."

"Adam," she said with a sleepy chuckle, "Since when is that my hand."

Adam awoke early as he always did and let Melinda sleep while he took a look around to get the lay of the land. He found a stack of his clothing on Melinda's dresser—items sent over by the hotel—and another basket of clothes and personal items on the kitchen table, probably delivered by his grandfather during the wedding party.

He knew that it would take some time to get used to this house, but he managed to find a coffee pot and grounds, and set that on to brew after building a fire in the stove. He washed up in cold water, put on fresh clothing, set water on to warm for Melinda's morning ablutions, and finally found a cup for his eye-opening beverage.

Hearing footsteps above him, he ran up to find Melinda padding around in her robe and bare feet, trying to decide what to wear. His suggestion that, "We might just stay in today, requiring you to wear nothing at all," was met with a sour look from his new bride, even though she followed that with a wink…and a promise. He decided that waiting for a woman to get ready was going to be one of those adjustments he had mentioned to Melinda during the night. A bane in his life as a bachelor had always been to arrive in a timely manner to escort a woman somewhere, only to be kept waiting. Now he realized it was going to be the norm and concluded that he'd have to become creative in using the wait to his advantage instead of grousing or pacing.

Leaving his wife to her wardrobe decisions, Adam headed back down to his coffee and retrieved the cache of notes he'd removed from the pockets of the pants he'd worn during the wedding, and others that he'd found stacked next to the clothes basket on the kitchen table.

There was a telegram from Hoss and Joe wishing him a happy life, and expressing their hopes for many nieces and nephews. Each brother had sent a more personal telegram as well with thoughts for both Adam and Melinda. He could see them laughing as they put together the wording of the bawdier message to him, followed by each of them saying they had something to do in town for a bit. After separating, they would have made their way back to the telegraph office to send the second wires. Knowing how things worked between Joe and Hoss, Adam envisioned them arriving at the same time and hemming and hawing about why they were there. These thoughts made his heart ache. His brothers had been his best friends while also being his biggest challenge and responsibility growing up. He missed them.

Adam shook off his heavy heart and continued sorting through the envelopes. He put a few aside unopened, feeling that Melinda would want to look first at the ones from her friends. One card was signed by several members of the symphonic choir. It also contained the date for the rescheduled concert, and a notice that rehearsals for the Requiem would recommence on Tuesday evening and continue on a frequent basis for the remaining time until the performance.

The final envelope he opened was the one that Frank had delivered as he and Marian had left. Adam put it down after reading it, feeling mystified. He looked up as he heard Melinda descending the steps—still in her robe—carrying the ewer that matched her wash basin.

"I smelled coffee and hoped that you'd put water on to heat as well?"

He muttered, "Yup," as he pointed toward the kitchen while rescanning the letter from Frank, "In there."

Melinda walked to the table and peered over his shoulder. "What are you reading, Adam? You look unsettled. Is it bad news?"

He reached back to take her hand and said, "You better sit down for this. This is from Frank and I don't know what to think about it."

Her brows hooded her eyes in concern. "I can't imagine what Frank would say to make you look so uneasy."

Adam turned back to look at her. "He and Marian have set up a trust for us, and made me an heir to their estate."

"Why would they do that?" Seeing Adam's eyes reflect the same question she added, "Maybe you'll need to explain this a little more."

"Frank wrote that Marian and the kids have been after him for years to include me as an official member of their family." Adam pointed to a paragraph.

She sat and rested her hand on his arm as she read, and finally commented, "They love you, Adam. It's here in words, but I have always known that to be true just by the way they act when you're around. I don't imagine that you think you've done anything special for the Wadsworth family, but you've found a place in their hearts." She thought a moment, "You do feel like you're part of their family, don't you?"

"Sure, but…I have my own father and family."

"You can be part of the Wadsworth family without it meaning that you're less of a part of your own. You're part of the Hayworth family too now. Families are formed as much through a meeting of hearts as they are through blood. Even the Cartwright family tree has three different limbs that are grafted in your father."

Adam nodded. "I think you're right about that. But you might understand my reserve when you see this." He slid out the second page of the letter and pointed to a figure at the bottom of the page. "This is the amount in the trust."

"Wow!" She whistled as she reread the sum. "What are you going to do with all that money?"

"Save it I suppose…I don't know. And it's our money, not just mine. You realize that my share of the Ponderosa is worth a good deal and I have investments that are doing well. We're set for life…actually for a few lifetimes, Melinda, but I don't ever want to sit back and roost on that fact. Let's go on as if it's not there so that we work toward our own goals, whether they bring fortune or not. If we let this grow, we'll be able to do something to benefit others in ways we can't imagine right now."

Melinda hugged him. "I like that idea. Maybe we can endow a school or help some deserving organizations. Our incomes should allow us to pay our bills, save some, and still have plenty left for travel and a few splurges now and then. In fact…" she smiled shyly, "I'm thinking we might have enough to take a trip somewhere in the near future? I'd like to get away and do as we wish for a few days. "

Adam took her pitcher as he rose from the table. "My dear," he said as he bowed to his wife, "I think that we can speak of trips once you are suitably attired. Perhaps we can shed the bonds of city life for a blanket on the banks of a river somewhere to discuss it further. If that sounds pleasant to you, I will fetch your water and take it up to your boudoir to expedite our leave-taking."

She returned his smile with a wink. "As long as we're heading toward my bedchamber, sir, we might well use it for roof-raising purposes first, don't you think?"

Adam grabbed her hand after setting the pitcher back on the table. "That hot water isn't going anywhere. Race you up the stairs…"

The newlyweds decided that they were more inclined to laze around instead of going anywhere. While eating leftover wedding cake and sipping coffee, they talked about a possible trip and decided that they could take time off as soon as Adam's concert was over and Melinda finished looking through the pile of submissions she'd been given at work. They didn't wish to travel so far that the journey would leave them worn out for the days they'd spend at their destination, and New York seemed a reasonable choice.

Melinda quickly voiced one of her expectations. "I'd like to meet with Susan Anthony while we're there. I met her once with my aunt and I've heard that she's working in New York while trying to get a monthly newsletter into publication. Maybe she could give me some suggestions about the best way to present the information my mother is gathering about the women from the brothels."

"I'm very interested to see what you and Margaret put together," Adam responded. "Les mentioned that some of the ladies have already left the mission and have probably gone back to the same kind of work. I hope Margaret gets a chance to interview them as well."

"If anyone can get them to talk, it will be my mother." She laughed and then asked, "Would you want to talk to Miss Anthony too?"

"I should think it an interesting conversation." He drew a long breath. "But if I go with you, then you'll have to accompany me to a meeting I'd like to attend while we're there."

"What do you have in mind?"

"There's a conference scheduled in a few weeks discussing a coming revolution in building engineering that will utilize the Otis elevator and steel framing. They're talking about multi-story structures that will someday scrape the sky. Of course current construction methods and materials haven't reached the point of making this a reality yet, but I'd guess that a ten story-or-greater, steel framed building will be constructed within twenty years. And once we figure out how to make things work for that," he threw his arms over his head, "then they sky's the limit."

Melinda gave him a sidelong glance. "How about I talk to Miss Anthony and you go find out how to build sky-scraping buildings. We'll tell each other what we learned at dinner. Let's plan a few things to do together and I'll get a schedule of concerts and plays being performed while we're there. We'll spend our days exploring, our evenings enjoying dinner and the arts, and nights in our hotel room enjoying each other."

Adam's shook his head as he reached for his bride's hand. "Why do I suspect that life with you will never be dull, Mrs. Cartwright?" He drew her hand to his lips and suggested, "Maybe we should head over and spend time with my father today. Pa will be leaving soon and there hasn't been much opportunity for the three of us to be together.

Melinda agreed and finished getting ready. The couple walked through Abel's back door just after noon. "Ah," Abel called to Sadie, "add two more plates. We have company, and they look hungry."

Lunch was an indoor picnic with an abundance of food left over from the wedding. Feeling too full to move, and disinclined to rush in cleaning up, the group talked about the previous day. Sadie asked for a better look at Melinda's wedding band and Adam again offered his thanks for their stellar planning.

As that discussion waned, Adam remembered a question he'd been meaning to ask his father. "Have you heard anything about the outcome of the Washington inquiry, Pa?"

Abel offered his comment as well. "I didn't see anything more about it in the paper."

"I'm not sure it's over," Ben explained. "The only testimony remaining was that of a few zealous Southern advocates and Terry himself, but I'd heard that he might not come. They gave him a deadline to present himself so there should be news soon. As I understand it, all testimony will be reviewed and charges will follow if warranted. It could still take some time for an outcome."

"You warned Terry, Pa. It's too bad he couldn't soften his views once he knew the war wasn't going to end as he wished." Adam added, "Did you get a feeling for how it might go?"

Ben shook his head. "It seemed to me that the whole exercise was more about making sure they understood what happened so that it won't happen again. Sadly, I think that men like David Terry will never be the same. They remain unable or unwilling to move ahead. It will take years for this country to heal, but for some, the healing will never come."

Conversation ceased as those around the table considered Ben's statement. Sadie finally rose and asked the other to pass their plates to start the cleanup.

Melinda volunteered, "I'll wash the dishes but I need someone to dry."

After Ben agreed to help, Adam warned, "Watch out, Pa. Melinda swings a mean towel whip." He received a scathing look from his wife as he laughed, "She'll have to take lessons from Little Joe though. He could spin that towel and deliver a sting so fast you couldn't even prove he'd done it."

Melinda began gathering the serving dishes while changing the subject, "I can't believe how quickly everything got cleaned up last night! I'm glad these few dishes are all we have to worry about." Unable to stifle a yawn, she blushed. "Sorry about that. I think we could probably all use a nap. I know Adam didn't come over until quite late last night, and was up early." She yawned again more quietly. "In fact, it started to get so late that I thought maybe he'd forgotten about me." She watched with interest as secret looks and grins were exchanged between the two older men and Sadie. She also saw the pink in Adam's cheeks as he stared down the other three. Melinda began to grin as she queried, "He did forget about me, didn't he?" She looked directly at her husband. "What do these three people know that you obviously don't want them to tell me?"

Adam spoke sternly, "I don't think these people have anything to offer on that subject…do they?"

Ben said, "I didn't see Adam heading upstairs to his bedroom after he came inside last night."

Abel added, "And I didn't hear him say that he was going to bed…twice…as he looked at us like we were daft for asking where he was going."

Sadie grabbed the stack of dirty dishes and laughed, "I ain't sayin' a thing!"

Melinda's eyes locked in on Adam. "Well? Do you have anything to offer?"

He stared back. "I claim my constitutional right to not incriminate myself." He thought further and added, "But in my defense, I hadn't forgotten about you, I just forgot where I was. In the last two weeks, I've stayed at the Wadsworths, in the hospital and then in a hotel. I wanted to go to bed, and forgot that it was next door."

She reached down to pat his shoulder. "That's all right sweetie. All that matters is you found your way home…even if you forgot where it was for a bit."

The afternoon passed quickly with Ben telling tales of Adam's childhood to Melinda's delight. He also shared stories from his son's adult years on the Ponderosa after Adam excused himself to take a walk. Conversations continued on until it was time for dinner and the group decided to walk to a pub where Abel and Sadie planned to celebrate their wedding.

Four

And Life Goes On

Both Adam and Melinda went to work on Monday afternoon but took Tuesday off for Abel's wedding. The older couple was married in an early morning ceremony at a chapel near the harbor basin. Sadie's family along with the Cartwrights lunched at the pub and then sent the newlyweds off to a night of pampering at the Parker House Hotel.

When Adam left for choir practice that evening, Melinda and Sadie's daughter, Wilma, snuck up to Abel's room and added a few feminine touches. A new quilt, lighter curtains and matching milky-white lamps brightened the room instantly. Melinda brought over new sheets, rugs and a watercolor of the Boston harbor to soften the effect of Abel's nautical knickknacks. The two women were greatly pleased by the transformation and hoped that Abel would be inclined to agree with them.

With the updates finished, Ben and Melinda spent the remainder of the evening talking. They formed an easy bond as she questioned him further about the Ponderosa and the two sons back home. Ben asked more about her work and family, and even felt comfortable enough with Melinda to speak of his time on the sea with Abel as his captain, meeting and marrying Elizabeth, and his decision to head West with his infant son.

The main subject of Ben and Melinda's earlier conversation made a quick stop to say goodnight to his father when he returned from rehearsal. "So what do you think of her, Pa?" he asked, coming straight to the point.

"I like her very much, son. Were you concerned that I wouldn't?" his father asked with a questioning smile.

"Not really. It's just that she has strong opinions and isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks."

Ben laughed and came over to grasp his son's shoulders. "I can handle opinionated women, Adam. Your mother, Inger and Marie were all outspoken and I loved them for it. Melinda makes her opinions known, but she also seems willing to listen. She's intelligent and strong-willed, but those qualities are tempered by an open heart. What impressed me most is how much she loves you."

"That she does. The feeling is mutual, Pa."

Father and son said goodnight and Adam made his way next door. He didn't have to ask Melinda what she thought.

"I like your father, Adam. He's so easy to talk with. He wasn't afraid to question my opinions, but he made a real effort to understand them. I do see a lot of him in you. You are both strong, passionate about what you believe in, and devoted to family."

"He feels the same about you, my dear. You must have bewitched him because he thinks that you are easy to get along with. I know better." A pillow flew across the room, knocking the hat off his head. "Your aim is improving, Melinda…that's if you were aiming for my head." He reached the sofa in a few long strides and pulled her up into an embrace. "We've only been married four days and you're already attacking me? I have ways of dealing with such an insolent wife."

Melinda threw her arm across her forehead and cried, "Alas, I am a wayward wench. Take me upstairs and do with me as you see fit." They were both laughing as he chased her up the stairs.

Ben was looking out his bedroom window as he saw the lamp extinguished next door. He smiled, certain that his son was happily married to a woman who was a good match—an equal in every way. He couldn't help wondering what this new couple's presence on the Ponderosa might do, and decided he would have to propose that possibility to Adam before leaving for Nevada.

Adam and Ben spent Wednesday with Frank on the Wadsworth estate where the two Bostonians made the Nevadan rancher attempt to ride with an English saddle. Adam gave up his western-saddled horse and took over the steed his father finally abandoned after continued problems staying in the slimly-cut seat.

That change made the day go more smoothly in many ways, and by the end of the ride, the two older men had fully discussed many things, including the value of good horseflesh, and how to ship Sport to Boston.

Ben said, "Sport is really too much horse for our hired men to handle, and Joe and Hoss have their own favorites, so he doesn't get ridden much. I suspect that there'd be several people here who could ride him without problem, and Adam could get out here when he has a chance. He would be a good horse to help work the thoroughbreds."

Frank agreed. "Let me know what you decide, Ben. We'll take good care of him and put him to work if he comes."

All Adam could do was laugh. He hadn't been consulted for an opinion, but felt he would benefit if his father did send Sport. As he rode along listening to the two older men talk, he realized that he hadn't said more than a few words all morning. He was glad that his father and Frank got along so well, and couldn't help but consider that while he'd had three women in his lifetime that he thought of as mothers, it now seemed that with Abel and Frank, he had three fathers as well. There would be times when having one father would be hard enough to cope with, yet he deemed himself blessed.

Father and son returned to the Stoddard home in the afternoon to find Abel and Sadie back from their brief honeymoon, and thrilled with the changes to their room. Melinda and Adam volunteered to cook dinner, and the family dined on scrambled eggs, cornbread and sausage. It wasn't much of a feast, but it was better than anything else the newlyweds might have conjured up on short notice.

As they brought out the repast, Ben smiled appreciatively. "Whew!" he offered when Melinda set her bowl of eggs on the table, "with Adam doing the cooking, I was sure it would have included beans! Although he hates them, it's about the only thing he can warm up."

Following dinner, Adam approached his father. "Would you come with me to rehearsal, Pa? We talked about it earlier but I'm not sure you gave me an answer. I mentioned that we're only doing the first few sections of the Requiem tonight, but with the orchestra there you'll get the effect of what the concert will sound like. The only thing I'd advise you to do is to bring along something to read or work on in case we end up doing more rehearsing than performing.

Ben agreed, hoping for a chance to speak privately to his son about returning to the Ponderosa on the trip to practice. However, Adam set the tone for their conversation soon after they left the Stoddard house.

"You seemed to have a good time with Frank today in spite of the saddle problems. I hope you aren't too sore."

Ben rubbed his back and laughed, "I'll have to start walking when I can't handle a few riding mishaps, but I still don't know how people stay on those things." He looked over at Adam and smiled, "By the way, you looked very sophisticated in your breeches and tall boots. I suspect you and Frank wore those outfits to see what I'd say."

Adam's sly smile turned into a grin. "I'll admit that we wondered if you'd have a comment, but truthfully, those pants have suede inserts on the inner leg and seat to help you stay put. I would have offered you a pair, but I didn't think you'd wear them."

"You're right about that, but I did enjoy the opportunity to be with Frank and to see his spread from horseback. He's a genuine man and having a chance to work with him is something I've appreciated and learned from. I'm just glad I'll never have to face him in a bid-off for a project or explain why I can't deliver what he needs."

"You're right about that. Frank is known for his…ah…"

"Temper?" Ben supplied.

"There's that, but I think a better word is force. You've seen him. He bellows and makes lesser men quake. Once you get to know him though, you find that under all that bluster is a very reasonable and easygoing man. He's used to getting his way though, and doesn't put up with laxity or excuses." Adam glanced at his father, again. "Actually that's a pretty good description of you too, Pa."

They rode for another block in silence before Adam asked, "Does it bother you that Frank calls me, son? I noticed that you still winced a few times today when he did it. I can ask him to stop."

Ben said nothing for a bit, but reached over and patted Adam's hand. "I think it bothered me a lot at first. When we pulled up to that manor in the middle of the night and I saw his face brighten as you walked into the room despite the hour and possible circumstances, I knew that he thought of you as far more than an employee or his son's friend. It's hard not to see the closeness between the two of you."

Adam attempted to explain, but Ben held up his hand to stop him as he continued, "And when he called you son, I think my heart stopped for a moment. But I got over it as I came to know Frank. If he takes you into his heart, he takes you in completely and I have no doubt that he does think of you as one of his children. But you and I spent a lot of time together over the last week and we're still the same team we always were. No one can ever replace what we are to one another."

"That's for sure. Frank is a good man, but he's not you."

"I know that, son." Ben chuckled as he shook his head. "That word, son, does slip easily from the lips, doesn't it? And it's not like your name is so difficult to say. It would be different if we'd named you Hezekiah or Jehoshaphat. I suppose that, son, denotes a familiarity that a name does not. I think I react to Frank calling you, son, now because I wonder how many people I've called that while you were standing next to me. Did that ever bother you?"

"Nope, can't say it ever did. You will always welcome others into your heart too, Pa."

Ben nodded. His voice cracked slightly as he changed the subject. "Frank told me a few stories about your college days. One of them was about how a drunkard came into your dorm room. Did you know he was trying to kidnap Frankie?"

Adam chuckled. "I suspected that. The guy punched way to hard and accurately to be as drunk as he pretended to be."

"Les was hired right after that."

"I put that together the other night when Frank said that Les had been with him for 15 years. There were times I could have sworn that Frankie and I were being followed. I imagine that was true."

"Don't worry, Frank told me that he never asked for any reports of what you two were up to. Apparently he was of the opinion that you both deserved a chance to experience college without Les tattling." Ben lowered his voice as he gave Adam a knowing look. "How'd you like Frank's gift?"

Adam's rise in pitch marked his surprised, "You know about that?"

"Frank told me of his intentions and asked my opinion."

"I don't intend to spend the money, Pa. It's just Frank's way of showing me how he feels and…"

Ben silenced his son with a touch. "It's a generous gesture. I suspect that you will use it to benefit others, just as Frank is doing with you."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"Of course not. Maybe I'll come to you for a loan instead of paying interest to the bank." They both chuckled. "Seriously, Adam, I could never ask someone to withhold a gift that might benefit any of my sons. You'll do great things whether you have a lot of money or not."

Ben found a seat near a lighted wall sconce in the concert hall and pulled out his train itinerary while the choir and orchestra warmed up. After making a few notes about his trip, he jotted a list of items to check before he left, and finally opened the newspaper that William had given him with the article about the Congressional hearing he'd testified at. He shook his head as he read the description of the Ponderosa and Cartwright wealth, realizing that this information had probably influenced Lloyd's decision to kidnap Melinda. "Why don't reporters ask questions instead of creating questionable information?" he grumbled.

He put the paper aside as he thought the choir was about to begin, but realized that they were still practicing and blocked out the rehearsal by losing himself Elizabeth's copy of Paradise Lost. Ben was so engrossed that he missed the opening bars of the mass when the strings and woodwinds began to play, but was jolted to attention as the brass joined in, swelling the introduction in a crescendo. Putting the book aside, Ben crossed his leg over his knee, folded his arms and sat back to listen. He was shocked to see the size of the choir now that everyone was in place, and did a quick headcount, figuring that there were at least 100 members. The orchestra, while small compared to the choir, produced a sound that belied its size.

Odd, he thought as he scanned the choir, I don't see Adam. Pushing up in the seat, he finally saw him seated at the front of group. Adam didn't join in with the others as they began to sing the first words of the mass, and Ben wondered if his son had perhaps taken ill again. He mentally kicked himself. I should have paid more attention on the way over tonight. Did Adam give any indication that he wasn't well? The father began fidgeting when Adam was still not singing by the Kyrie, and continued to fret even as the second movement came to a close.

There was a lull in the performance as both directors moved to speak to the choir. He saw Adam nod several times, and then laugh at something said to him from a member of the choir standing behind him. Ben couldn't hear the conversations, but breathed with relief as Adam stood when the conductor went back to the podium and raised his baton.

As the orchestra began again, Ben noted that another man and two women had joined Adam on a raised platform at the front of the stage. The bass-voiced member of the group started to sing accompanied by a single trombone. After a minute or so, the strings entered softly as Adam began his solo lines. Ben was mesmerized. The words Adam sang were in Latin, but it didn't matter; he was focused on his son's voice. Why have I never heard him sing like this before? His voice is so…

The rest of the world dissolved as Ben leaned forward to capture every note. He was disappointed when the four soloists completed their section and the full choir joined in. But soon Adam was singing again, alone at first, and then in a quartet with the other soloists.

Ben inhaled deeply and held his breath as the four voices lifted his soul. When a drop of moisture hit his fingers, he realized a tear had slipped from his cheek. He wiped its companions away with the heels of his hands.

The Cartwright family had attended operas and concerts in San Francisco, and artistic events put on in Virginia City by traveling troupes, but Ben had never heard this Mozart work. He wondered if the music was as wonderful as it seemed or if it was made more so because Adam was an integral part of it. Yet as Ben continued to listen, a deep sadness began to shroud his heart.

There were several more opportunities to hear Adam as the group stopped the actual performance of the Requiem and began to work on sections where there had been problems. Ben hadn't heard any errors, but then he didn't have the musical judgment to pick out such details.

Several members of the choir came to greet Ben as rehearsal concluded. Some had been at the hospital or at Adam's wedding, while others were looking for feedback from their only audience member.

One of the group that he had met before said, "Several of us are heading to a pub down the street, Mr. Cartwright. Why don't you and Adam join us?"

"Thank you, but I'm not sure what Adam has in mind. We'll come if we can." He saw Adam motioning him to come to the stage and bid the others goodbye as he moved forward.

"Professor Kemp," Adam opened, "this is my father, Ben Cartwright."

The two men greeted each other and Ben offered sincerely, "It was a captivating performance that shall remain with me for some time."

Professor Kemp handed Adam a stack of music and asked that he take it to the storage room. Once his tenor was out of earshot, he addressed Ben. "I thought the performance would have to be set aside completely when so many of us became ill after celebrating my birthday. My greatest concern was for your son. As things often get blown out of proportion when they travel from person to person, I had heard that Adam wouldn't recover. You can't know how thankful I am that the rumors were false and that he is well."

The father smiled. "I think I might know how thankful you are."

The professor switched topics after a brief nod and smile at Ben's comment. "Adam said that your home is in Nevada and you'll be returning there shortly. I'm glad you were able to hear a bit of the concert before leaving. Had things not gone awry, the performance would have been tonight and I know how disappointed Adam was that you would need to leave before we could reschedule. I suggested he invite you tonight. I'm glad this worked out."

"I am too," Ben replied as the sadness he'd felt earlier returned. "Adam never got the chance to do choral work back home, so I am glad to see that he's singing in a choir of this caliber."

"Thank you, Mr. Cartwright. We are an unpaid group but we choose only the best of the best, and many of our members are from the field of music. I had concerns with letting such a new member do this part, but I also didn't have anyone who knew the music as well as your son. Adam is not a tenor, yet he has a good octave range and perfect pitch, and he's doing an excellent job. I think what is most remarkable is how the pureness of his voice draws the listener in." The professor chuckled. "Maybe it's all those years of fresh air and hard work on your ranch that honed such beautiful tone. Adam has ability, confidence, and an unmatched work ethic. But then I imagine that you know this about him already."

Ben nodded thoughtfully. "Yes I do."

Adam wondered why his father seemed quiet as they left the concert hall but didn't question him about it.

As they neared the buggy, Ben mentioned, "Some of your friends invited us to join them."

"Would you like to go, Pa?"

"I have several things to get done yet, and would like to spend a little time with Abel, so it might be best to head for home if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all. I'd like to stay with you and Grandfather for a while and get to Melinda before she thinks I forgot about her again." Adam drove away, finally glancing over at his father after traveling a few blocks with nothing more said. By the start of the fourth block he asked, "Is something wrong? You seem lost in thought."

Ben breathed deeply before asking, "Adam, why is it that I didn't know you could sing like that. Why didn't you tell me that you knew how to perform these incredible things, or ever sing this sort of music at home?"

Adam shrugged and considered whether to keep quiet or tell the truth. "I don't want this to be taken as anything but an answer to your question, Pa, but I did tell you. I wrote about being accepted into the choir while I was at school, and about the concerts and solos I performed during that time. I even tried to tell you about it when I got back."

Ben snarled, "You never did," before softening it to, "Or at least I don't remember it."

"Your mind was usually on the ranch and that was true of the night I brought it up. You listened for a few sentences and then told me that I wasn't at school anymore and would have to focus on things that mattered. And when I told you that I wanted to approach our pastor about doing a song from Handel's Messiah the first Christmas I was back, you warned me that people wouldn't like it if I tried to show off." Adam chuckled. "My brothers didn't like to hear that kind of music either, but I'll have you know that I did sing in a choir." When his father flashed a questioning look, Adam explained, "I sang in the canyons when I was alone out there at night, and the coyotes sang along."

He asked his son to stop the carriage, waiting until Adam could face him to say, "I'm sorry that I didn't pay more attention to the things that mattered to you. I'm beginning to wonder just how much of yourself I forced you to give up or hide from me because I couldn't see the importance. Those twelve years you were home again were the happiest of my life, and it saddens me to think that they were probably the worst years of yours. I don't know what to say...how to begin to make up for it. I had planned tonight to ask you to come back to Nevada with Melinda and make your life there, but now…"

Adam remembered thinking that this conversation would arise when he'd heard that his father was coming for a visit. Knowing it still didn't make it any easier to hear the question or formulate an answer. He decided to be honest. "I wanted to come home after school, Pa. I needed the chance to prove to both of us that I had learned something worthwhile in the years I was gone. I think both Melinda and I had things to prove to ourselves back then, and while I'm sorry that my life with her was delayed, I'm beginning to understand that things happen as they're meant to."

He paused a minute to consider what else he would share. "I admit that there were times when you'd seem to get so angry when I'd talk about Boston that I finally stopped trying. And I had to abandon some interests because the opportunities weren't available back home. There were other things that I refused to give up though, like reading whatever I wanted to regardless of the teasing it brought from my brothers." He smiled at his father. "What I found was that after I let go of the old interests, I developed new ones that became just as satisfying. We were a household of four people who each had their own preferences, and we came to honor our individuality while still managing to find our common interests. We all worked hard and lived well."

Adam nudged his father's arm. "And speaking of hard work, my years on the Ponderosa prepared me for anything. You taught me how to reason things out, how to decide on the best course of action and then how to follow through without paying attention to anyone who might not like what I was doing. I'll admit that there were tensions, and we didn't always see eye-to-eye."

Ben's frown turned to a soft smile. "You think that things got tense? That's one way to describe it. All-out wars of words and wills might be a better depiction. I remember you hollering quite often about how I couldn't see the value of new ideas, and I'd shout back that your education was clouding your judgment. That poor hat of yours got tossed to the floor in frustration so many times that I considered attaching a handle to it and making it a dust mop." The smile grew. "We did always pull together when it counted, didn't we?"

"I learned a lot. I know I'm different than my brothers. My interests and goals were different, but I wouldn't trade those years with them for anything. I want you to believe that I never gave up anything to remain part of my family. I became a man in those years, and even though I grew restless toward the end, I never felt that I was being forced to stay. I just wasn't sure where I needed to go."

"One thing I am sorry about was that you didn't get to use your engineering skills more, but according to Frank's assessment, you're doing fine."

Adam laid a hand on his father's shoulder. "What do you mean I didn't get to use my engineering skills? Every bit of construction and moving thing on a ranch is based on engineering principles. I never said, 'I'm using my education now to place this fence post in the correct position,' but you have to admit we had the best fences in the territory." Adam winked. "And we tried new things, Pa. We built windmills, and sluices, and mills, I helped Philip Dedisheimer with his square set mine timbering, spent winters working with Frankie in San Francisco, and taught my brothers how to do things the right way."

A wide smile creased Ben's cheeks. "Maybe you didn't give up as much as I feared."

"When I first started school, a classmate asked me if I was a cowboy intellectual, or an intellectual cowboy. I went home to figure that out."

"I'm not sure what you mean, son. Is there a difference between the two?"

"To me there is. After the question was posed, I started to wonder if I was a cowboy who liked to learn things, or was I someone for whom learning was more important than what I did."

Ben's smile faded to wistfulness again. "I guess you found your answer. You seem different here. I think this is the life that calms your mind and eases your soul in a way that life out West never did."

"I think it's the time of my life that's different. It was hard to leave the Ponderosa behind, but I couldn't find what, or rather who I wanted to be anymore. I'm the same man, just riding a different trail. I promise I won't forget that there's a trail leading back to the Ponderosa, Pa. I can't make any promises about taking it soon. I hope you can understand that."

"I do. I'm sure that Abel thought I was crazy when I took off to places unknown with you. Still he encouraged me to go wherever my path led and I'll do the same for you." Ben chuckled as he put his arm around his son. "Seems like you've come full circle, Adam. Your trail led you back to where you started."

Ben Cartwright was sent off in grand style the next day with Frank and Marian, as well as Margaret and William joining the family at Abel's for lunch. As it neared time to leave, he made his way around the room offering personal goodbyes, and finally addressed them as a group. "I will remember all of you with great fondness. It's been an interesting couple of weeks in Boston, but through all of it, I've come to realize what a powerful alliance of friends and family my son and Melinda have behind them."

He gave his daughter-in-law a hug as he told her, "Adam is a fortunate man. Take care of each other, and I'll expect a visit soon." Turning then to Sadie, he kissed her cheek and thanked her for her hospitality and then embraced Abel, wishing him a happy life. After extending a quick invitation to all who might head West in the future, Ben gathered his things and headed to the door.

As Adam stowed Ben's satchels in the buggy, he showed his father two envelopes. "I'll stick these in your case, Pa. They're letters to Hoss and Joe. Let them know that you'll still be sending me reports on their comings and goings, so they might as well be honest when they write. And tell them that trains run east as well as west, so there's no reason they can't come to visit me. You'll be living proof that it's possible!"

With a wave back to the group assembled on the sidewalk, the Cartwrights headed to the station.

Passing near the harbor, Adam pointed out the area that he and Ben had worked on the week before. "They already have the timbering up for the retaining wall and are backfilling with stone and dirt. Frank said he'd never have gotten so far without the two of us working together. It felt like old times. Thank you…for everything, Pa. There were a number of things I couldn't have accomplished without you."

"Say no more. I enjoyed working with you, and admit that it beat any sort of sightseeing or sitting around jabbering that we might have done." He sighed. "I hate goodbyes, so I'll say what I have to now. Son…Adam, I have always been proud of you, and that feeling has been heightened during this visit. I will miss you, yet I know that you're feeling as excited now as I did when I ran those first trap lines on the Ponderosa. I also know that this is only the beginning and I expect great things from you…and a grandchild or two."

When Adam pulled into the station, Ben went to check on his train, and then returned to grab his things, telling Adam, "I don't want to drag this out, so I want you to get going. The train is running on schedule and due in shortly."

Adam stepped to the street. "I can't just leave you here."

Ben embraced his son, saying, "It's as I need it to be. Come good home, Adam. And don't take too long to make the trip. I want to be young enough to play with my grandchildren, not so old they'll have to push me around the yard in a wheelchair."

Adam tightened the embrace, "Don't worry, Pa. We have plenty of time."

Adam waved until his father was inside the building.

Ben walked quickly to a window overlooking the drop-off area and saw his son turn back one last time to wave before driving away. He placed his hand against the glass, and briefly rested his forehead on the sill once the familiar hat was too far down the block to see. "Goodbye, son," he whispered before gathering his bags and heading for the platform.

Adam spent a few hours taking measurements at a site after he dropped his father off, and arrived back home as the sun was setting. He could see Melinda at the table reading as he stepped onto the porch.

She raised her head and smiled as she heard him enter, and asked, "Rough day?"

"A little. It was hard saying goodbye, but Ben Cartwright does not do well away from the Ponderosa, even with two fine sons running it in his absence. I can only hope I'll feel as devoted to what I'm doing when I'm a few years older."

Melinda came to him, slipping her arms around his waist. "I like…" she hesitated, "no, I love your father. Maybe that's because he reminds me of someone else that I love very much." She laid her cheek against his. "When Ben and I spoke the other night, it was obvious to me how much he misses you. Did he ask you to come home?"

"In his way."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him," Adam whispered in her ear after kissing her, "that when I'm in your arms, I am home."

The End.

*Judge David Terry from the episode, The War Comes to Washoe, was an actual character from that time period. As Bonanza scripts often did, Terry was presented as a historic figure in a fictional way. Accounts of Terry's looks were completely different than the character presented in the episode and there isn't much mention of his family or as having had a daughter. There was much conjecture as to what Terry and other Southern sympathizers were planning should the statehood conventions vote Nevada into the union, but as I say in this, nothing ever came of it. Most of those who seemed embroiled in the threats, moved into positions in government. There were militias of thousands of southerners in place, but they were never organized enough to pose a threat. I deal with the fiction side of the episode and am using facts from the scripts to create another fictional possibility—as a way to get Ben to Boston for Adam's wedding. I'm sure there were hearings following the war and people were called to testify. Had Ben Cartwright existed, I'm sure he would have been one of them.

**This information is from a story I wrote called, It's Just a Year. The story explained how Adam was able to qualify for admission to an Ivy League college when there were no schools in Nevada as he was growing up. While Ben was intelligent, I doubt he had a formal education including math, science, literature and a foreign language. The same shortcomings exist with Inger and Marie. Each may have had smarts, but neither would have had a background to teach Adam what he needed to know. In It's Just a Year, I had Adam meet a Harvard professor who was doing research for a book on western wildflowers. There were actual botanical studies for Harvard going on in that time period. I just extended their scope…

3*James 4:14

4* It was thought at first that opiates were not addictive unless they went through the stomach. Of course that was proven false over time.

If you care to see any of Mozart's Requiem, you can look at: watch?v=6uYKwro4sSY&feature=related It might be a stretch for Pernell Roberts to sing tenor, but he did have a higher octave that he used in many of his songs. The episode with Hoyt Axton was one where he did a lot of tenor work.