To anyone who is reading, I apologize for the length of some of these chapters-some of them are as long as a short story, but I'm almost through. Girl Scout's honor.

TWENTY-FOUR

Joe had a setback. One day, he seemed to be on his sure way to recovery and then the next, he began running a low-grade fever. Not only that, but he began to vomit weakly and Adam thought it had a particularly foul smell. Ben was worried to distraction; Hoss was ill as well. He complained of a pain in his bowels and Adam just told him that he needed to eat less but then Hoss developed a bloody flux and Adam emptied his chamber pot because Hoss couldn't drag himself to the outhouse anymore. He groaned and rocked on his bed, sweating. The only thing that Adam knew that would cause such symptoms was cholera but Hoss didn't have the other symptoms of the disease. Besides, if he had it, why didn't Adam or their father-or Percy, who seemed to be bothered by nothing? Percy actually seemed to be happier and healthier than Adam had ever seen him.

Now that Percy had found his way to Virginia City, he spent most of his time there from late afternoon until early morning. Then he would sleep until noon or later. Adam complained, wanted to drag Percy out of his bed and toss him down the stairs and tell him to earn his keep but Ben said no.

"Pa, he does nothing around here but aggravate me and sleep. If he's a true Cartwright, if he wants to stay, then he should pull his weight. Granted, that's not much even if he were completely wet, but he should work around here."

"Adam," Ben had said, distressed, "can't this wait until some other time? I really can't deal with all this."

Adam knew that his father was worried but the hands would be home soon and then there would be so many things to start doing that Adam felt the situation needed to be settled and the sooner, the better. "All right, Pa. All right. But as soon as Joe is better, we need to take care of this Percy business."

But what Adam didn't know was that Percy had accrued debts at the poker table and asked Ben for money and Ben was too distracted to complain so he told Percy where the key was to the strongbox and Percy helped himself. Adam discovered the missing money when he went to pay Thad and the other two hands and there was little money left; he couldn't cover their pay. Adam had to go into the safe to make up the difference.

So Adam waited up until Percy came in about three in the morning. As soon as Percy stepped into the house, Adam confronted him.

"What the hell have you been doing?"

"Why I was playing poker," Percy said, trying to keep his composure. "And how nice of you to wait up for me, big brother. Were you worried?"

"Go to hell. How much did you lose?"

Percy straightened up his jacket. "Actually, tonight I won."

"Good. Then you can replace the money from the strong box to which, for your information, I now have the key."

"Well, I could replace it if the person from whom I won it had the money but it seems that he doesn't."

"How very convenient for you," Adam said. "And 'from whom' did you win this great amount?"

"Some poor cowboy." Percy took off his jacket. "Really, Adam, aren't you the least bit sleepy? I. myself am worn out. If I don't get my rest, I'll become as ill as Joe and Hoss and then Daddy would have three of us to concern him and he is in such bad health himself. Why he barely eats. If he continues this way, he'll end up taking to his bed as well." Percy started up the stairs. "Just think, Adam, it may come down to just you and me. Perhaps we will be able to divide the Ponderosa and all its holdings between only the two of us. My, my-just think of it. Makes my mouth water. Oh, and I rode past your…our, new tenants', home on my way to town. It's beginning to shape up nicely. Mrs. Jeffers was out working in a garden, planting flowers. She had on the loveliest bonnet-it framed her sweet face. And to think of her laying with that scarred-up creature who is her husband."

"When did you see him?" Adam couldn't recall Percy having met Nash Jeffers.

"Did I neglect to tell you? I went over with a box of cookies that Mrs. Delaney made at my request. Mr. Jeffers was on the porch, just sitting. Pathetic actually. Then she came out. She is lovely. Like a Raphaelite angel. Every time I see her, she just becomes lovelier and lovelier. I will have to stop by and see them again-both of them-much more often."

"Stay away from them."

"But I am the landlord along with you. I must protect my interests and see that they're maintaining the property. I have the right to stop by."

"You have no rights when it comes to the Jefferses. Stay away. I'm not going to tell you again."

Percy paused. He decided not to push Adam tonight. At least not anymore then he already had. "Very well. I suppose that being a landlord is below me. You can handle that aspect of the interests. Contact with lucre is so tainting."

"You don't seem to think so when it comes to robbing the strongbox."

And Percy laughed as he continued up the stairs. "Hardly robbing, Adam, when it's mine by birthright. But I suppose you're correct-as you always are. Money is lovely when it's used to pursue pleasure-it doesn't seem quite so bad then. In that regard," Percy said as he stopped on the landing, "I'm a hypocrite like you. We both will pay for what we want-even pay with our souls if necessary, won't we?"

Adam didn't ask Percy what he meant by his pointed comment. He didn't want Percy to think he was interested but Adam knew he was hypocritical in many aspects of his life but most of all, when it came to Piper and Nash. He helped them move onto the property for his own sake, to keep her close. He had kissed Piper and in his heart wished Nash dead and yet, he smiled to the man's face. Percy just grinned and went on his way to his room.

Percy lit the lamp in his room and began to undress. He stood in front of the mirror and admired himself. He decided that tomorrow he would go into Virginia City for a haircut and to have his moustache trimmed. And when Percy pulled the covers up, he grinned to himself and then he giggled in self-satisfaction. Poor, poor, Adam, he thought to himself. The others may die of physical stress but Adam shall die of a broken heart brought about by guilt. That, Percy had ensured at that night's poker game. Percy knew enough about Adam to know that he would have made a perfect knight in King Arthur's day-perhaps even a Sir Lancelot, who was ill-made enough to suffer in his adulterous love with Queen Guinevere and to never take pleasure in it but have his love for her a constant source of pain and agony until it broke him. Yes, Percy thought, I shall break him and then Adam shall leave-shall go away never to return and then the Ponderosa will be mine.

Percy thought back to his meeting with Nash and Piper Jeffers earlier that day. He had tried to make pleasant conversation with Nash but it appeared that for some reason, Nash took a dislike to him. Perhaps it was because he had used Adam's name in introducing himself, saying that Adam had thought that he should go and introduce himself since he was the newest member of the family unless of course, someone else popped up at the Ponderosa claiming, "Daddy!" Percy also said that he came bearing gifts and Nash had quoted Virgil, "Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts." And Percy had laughed-not truly amused-and then Piper had walked out onto the porch.

"How nice to see you again, Mrs. Jeffers," Percy said, bowing and reaching out for her hand. Piper hesitated and then put out her hand and Percy kissed it. Piper wiped it on the back of her skirt. Percy noticed but said nothing. "I brought a small gift of homemade cookies. I imagine that you are so busy that you haven't had the time to make a sweet treat." He gave Piper his most endearing smile.

"Why thank you, Mr….."

"It's Cartwright."

"Of course." Piper just stood and no one said anything. Nash tilted his head upward.

"Well, I suppose I should go…" Percy said but made no effort to leave.

"Piper," Nash said, "aren't you going to offer our visitor anything? We can't have him think that we are ungrateful for his gift."

"It's not necessary. I am on my way to Virginia City but I would like a glass of water if it's not putting out anyone."

"Why we can do better than that. Piper, don't we have coffee on the stove? Invite Mr. Cartwright in and offer him some."

"Would you like some coffee?" Piper's face was cold and so was her voice. She did not like this man.

"Why thank you. Yes I would."

"Nash, will you join us?"

"No, I am enjoying the morning air. In a bit the sun will be on my face and I don't want to miss it. Go ahead, Piper, and play mistress of your grand home that Adam Cartwright has deigned to let us rent and entertain the wealthy landowner. He's not Adam but he will do, don't you agree?"

Piper said nothing, just asked Percy to follow her and she led him to the kitchen where he sat down at the small table, pulling off his gloves and placing them on the table alongside his hat which he had removed. Piper poured him a cup of coffee and placed it before him.

"What do you take in your coffee? I now have cream to offer."

"Actually, I prefer tea but I will take sugar and cream if you don't mind." Piper opened the larder and took out a small cream pitcher and a bowl of sugar loaves and placed them in front of Percy along with a spoon. She knew that she should prepare his coffee for him but she didn't want to. "Won't you join me?"

Piper sat down across from him. "Would you like some of the cookies that you brought?"

"No, thank you, this is fine." Percy sipped the coffee; he would never get used to it. Tea had such a richness compared to coffee, a subtle mix of flavors that outshone coffee every time. "Do you like tea?" Percy wanted to start a conversation.

"I like chamomile tea. I used to drink it every evening-it helps me sleep."

"Ah, yes. There is a tea for whatever ailment you may have. I do think that if Adam drank more tea, he wouldn't be so choleric. Oh, I don't mean to insinuate that he has cholera!" Percy had noticed that at the mention of "Adam" and "choleric," Piper sat up straighter.

"He's not ill, is he?" Piper felt a panic surge through her.

"Oh, no, no-that is unless you count his being sick at heart."

"Sick at heart?"

"Yes. He pines for you, I fear. I have tried to get him to confide in me-you know a friend's or brother's sincere efforts to help shouldn't be eschewed. But Adam is hard as granite-he won't allow anyone in to know his private thoughts but I have picked up on certain things that he has said and I can only infer that he-well, he loves you. If anything should happen to you, or your great beauty-and you are beautiful if I may be so forward as to say so-well, I'm afraid that Adam would be lost." Percy tried to look sympathetic.

"That's nonsense," Piper added. "I am a married woman and Adam has always been a complete and proper gentleman."

Then Percy grinned; he knew by Piper's voice and her attempt to control her face that Adam hadn't been a complete gentleman and Percy only wondered how far Adam's transgression had gone. Had the two kissed? Had Adam taken Piper on the couch or in the barn or against the back wall of the house? But it really didn't matter as long as Adam still loved Piper. Percy had needed confirmation and now he had it.

"Well, thank you for the coffee and the conversation," Percy said standing up and sweeping up his gloves and hat, "but I must be on my way."

Piper stood then. "Well, if you must go…" She walked him out and when they reached the porch, Nash was eating cookies.

"So glad that you like the pastries," Percy said. "You must enjoy some, Mrs. Jeffers." And then Percy put on his hat and slipped on his gloves and rode off, tipping his hat to Piper one more time as she stood on the porch.

"I don't care for him," Piper said to her husband. "I don't care for him at all."

And as Percy lay in bed, he smiled at his plans and how exacting of vengeance they were-so poetic. Ben would live; that Percy had decided. His mother had told him to wreak vengeance against the great Ben Cartwright and Percy would. But it wouldn't be swift and merciful. No, no, not for what Ben Cartwright had done to his mother and by extension to him. Ben's suffering would be slow and agonizingly painful and eat away at him like some disease, destroying him until all that would be left of the great man was an empty shell-his two sons dead, his eldest gone or insane with grief and never to return. And then Percy would be his only progeny left and Ben would be a doddering old man-so easily led, an afghan over his lap, drooling down his chin. The picture delighted Percy. He grinned to himself, hugging himself the way a girl does when she envisions herself in the grandness of her wedding gown. Then Percy sighed deeply, and eventually fell asleep, smiling.

Early the next morning, Adam sat alone on the settee sipping coffee. He had declined breakfast and so had Ben so Adam had taken a cup up to his father.

"You need to eat, Pa." Adam was shocked at his father's appearance. Ben Cartwright had dropped about ten pounds in a mere two weeks. His face was gaunt and he was often confused. Adam chalked it up to sleep deprivation; Ben went from one ill son to the other, wiping them down and offering them water. Adam told him that he would watch one while his father watched the other but Ben said no. Someone needed to take care of the ranching responsibilities and he couldn't trust Percy to do it. And then Ben grabbed Adam's arm and said with a certain desperation that Adam must be certain that Percy did not take over the ranch, for Adam to make certain of it.

And that was what Adam was determined to do. So Adam sat sipping his coffee, mulling the situation over and over when there was a knock at the front door. Adam hoped it was Paul Martin; Adam had left a message at his office asking for the doctor to stop by the Ponderosa, but when he opened it, Hop Sing stood there.

"I come in?" Hop Sing asked.

"Yes, of course," Adam said. Mrs. Delaney came out of the kitchen to answer the door and saw the Chinese man.

"It's all right, Mrs. Delaney. It's a long-lost member of the family." Mrs. Delaney nodded and went back to the kitchen.

"Hop Sing hear Little Joe sick again and Mistah Hoss, he very sick."

Adam had no idea how Hop Sing knew. Who had told him about Joe and Hoss' worsening conditions, he didn't know but he didn't question it. Hop Sing always knew what was going on with his "family."

"They're upstairs," Adam said. "Pa is just about worn out."

"Hop Sing stay until they better. That woman, who she?"

"She's the new cook."

"Humph!" Hop Sing said. "That why they sick. Only Hop Sing can cook right for Cartwrights. You tell her go. You tell her leave now!" And Hop Sing went up the stairs and Adam smiled as he heard the relief and delight in his father's voice, happy to see Hop Sing again.

Adam went back to his coffee. It tasted better now as the wave of relief flooded him. Hop Sing was here. Now he could give that responsibility over to him and Adam could focus more on business. Adam went to the sideboard to refill his cup when Percy came slowly down the stairs, adjusting his high collar over his fitted jacket.

"Up early, aren't you?" Adam asked.

"Yes, I suppose I am but I have to collect a debt in town. And besides, what is it that your American hero said? 'Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.' Franklin, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Adam answered.

"Hopefully, rising this early will bring me wealth. But didn't this Franklin also warn people to avoid venery? Do you follow that precept, Adam?"

Adam chose to ignore his comment on venery and continued. "What debt are you talking about that you need to collect? The poker debt?"

"Yes. You are ever so astute. My debtor is to have exactly what I require today. I shall be gone a few hours." Percy walked over to the desk and then turned to Adam. "May I have some money, older brother? I would like to have breakfast in town. Sadly, since you now hold the key to my heart-the strongbox, I have to ask you."

Adam walked over to the desk, unlocked the strongbox and pulled out a few bills, counted out fifty dollars and handed them to Percy.

"That's all?" Percy held the bills in his hand, obviously disappointed.

"You're lucky that I'm giving you any at all. That's to last a week."

"A week! I can't survive on a mere fifty a week!"

Adam shrugged and locked the box and put it back in the desk, shutting the drawer with a slam for impact. "Learn to live within your means," Adam said.

Percy quickly recovered from his disappointment. "Well, I suppose something is better than nothing." Percy tucked the bills in his wallet and then replaced it in his inside jacket pocket. "You know, I asked Father for the combination to the safe but he denied me. Me! But I think that dear Daddy will trust me with it soon. My guess is that it holds all the documents related to the Ponderosa holdings and money-lots and lots of money. And might I guess that it holds jewelry as well?" Percy picked up the gold-framed picture of Marie. "Now this lovely parure that Joseph's mother is wearing-it must be somewhere so I deduce that it is either in this vault or the Virginia City bank's vault." Percy placed the picture back on the desk. "I'll find out eventually."

Adam watched Percy leave. With Percy gone and Hop Sing here, things felt almost normal. Mrs. Delaney came out from the kitchen.

"Mr. Cartwright, you want beef tonight or pork?"

Adam thought. "Neither. And I need to tell you that you are no longer needed. Thank you for your services but please pack up your belongings. I'll ask Thad, one of the hands to drive you into town. You don't need to come back."

"But you weren't the one to hire me. Mr. Percy did."

"That's true but I'm the one who's firing you. Be ready to leave in a half hour."

Mrs. Delaney sighed as Adam walked out of the house. Mr. Percy would try not to pay her since she hadn't finished in her task but then, she could blackmail him. He'd pay just to shut her up. And as she went to her room behind the kitchen to pack up, she thought that she would have to go back to work tonight taking a few drunken, smelly cowboys up to her room in the brothel and if they passed out, well, she would roll them and make even more money. She would manage until Mr. Percy came by to see her-or she would come to see him.

Adam arranged for Thad to take Mrs. Delaney to town and Adam, who felt invigorated with all the responsibilities he had been able to shed now that Hop Sing was back, decided to visit Piper. He was bothered by how they had left things. So Adam saddled his horse and rode out to the house. He didn't know how he would be received, if Piper had told Nash about their kiss or not. But Adam knew that it had been more than a kiss-it had been a renewal of their deep passion and desire for one another, an acknowledgement that they weren't young and optimistic and that they both knew of the consequences of their actions. Now they had to decide if the possible ramifications of their love and desire for one another was worth the risk. Maybe as soon as he rode up, Nash would begin to blindly fire in his direction. And Adam wondered if he would shoot a blind man even if the man had a 12 gauge shotgun aimed at him. He hoped that he would never have to find out.