Chapter Four
Adam was right. By the time Josie slunk downstairs for lunch, everyone was acting as if nothing had happened that morning. Adam had to swallow a laugh, however, when he saw Josie come downstairs wearing a pair of jeans and a checkered shirt rather than the skirts and shirtwaists she had been careful to wear while Rachel was present. Rachel's eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in disgust, but she bit her bottom lip and said nothing.
Josie stuck closely to her cousins that afternoon as they made the final preparations for the party. Rather than making Ben drag the ladder out of the barn, Josie clambered up onto Hoss's shoulders to hang the silk lanterns across the front yard. Ben initially protested – seeing Josie swaying from Hoss's shoulders always made him nervous – but when he saw how much more quickly the lanterns were going up than he could have done with the ladder, he closed his mouth and helped Adam and Little Joe set up the tables and chairs around the perimeter of the yard; they would leave the center clear for dancing.
In late afternoon, the three ladies disappeared into their bedrooms to dress for the party. Josie took a quick bath while her mother assisted Rachel. Afterward, wearing only her bloomers and chemise, Josie was digging through her wardrobe for her silk dancing slippers when her mother entered the room. Hannah shook her head in amusement at her daughter's ruffled hind end jutting out of the wardrobe; Josie had never been one to stand on ceremony. Wordlessly, Hannah picked up a pearl-handled brush from Josie's dressing table and beckoned for her to come and sit down. Josie obeyed, but she avoided catching her mother's gaze in the mirror; she still felt terrible about her outburst that morning. The women remained silent for several long moments as Hannah ran the brush gently through Josie's long, black hair. Unlike the pleasant silence of breakfast with Adam, however, this silence with Hannah was deafening. Finally, Josie could bear it no longer.
"Mama, I-" she began, but Hannah held up a hand to shush her.
"Josie, it's all right," Hannah said, draping a section of Josie's hair over her daughter's right shoulder. Hannah pulled up a chair to sit face-to-face with Josie. "You should not have been disrespectful to your aunt, but we all understand how vexing she can be. Your grandfather was one of the most patient men I have ever known, and even he had to get up and leave the room from time to time. She does not mean to be so overbearing; it's just that we are all she has."
"Yes, ma'am," Josie replied. "And I'll apologize to her, but that isn't what I was going to say. Mostly I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner that I was planning to stay here after the war. I reached that decision back at Christmas when Adam showed me the blueprints for my clinic. I should have mentioned it then, and I'm sorry." She dropped her gaze to her lap and studied her thumbnails; she had missed a spot when she was brushing them out during her bath, and she now picked absently at the dirt.
Hannah smiled at Josie, causing her eyes to crinkle at the corners. "Something told me Adam figured into this. I expect Simon does, too?"
Josie did not raise her head, but Hannah could see her daughter's cheeks redden ever so slightly.
"Maybe a little," Josie mumbled. Hannah tittered, and Josie snapped her head up. "But Uncle Ben and Hoss and Joe, and pretty much everyone in Virginia City does, too, Mama! I finally feel like I fit in someplace. I'm useful here."
"I can see that," Hannah replied kindly. "Just walking down the street in town with you, I can see how much everyone respects you. You have certainly made a name for yourself in Virginia City, and I am so proud of you."
Josie glanced up at Hannah and gave her a half-smile.
"And it was not as big a shock to me as you assume it was to hear that you plan to stay here," Hannah continued. "I have long suspected this would be the case, ever since you first broached the idea of coming out here to your father and me, back on the day the war broke out. You have always belonged out here, not in Boston or Washington. You're too much of a Cartwright." She tweaked Josie's cheek like she used to when Josie was a little girl, and Josie giggled and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck.
"I love you, Mama," she whispered in Hannah's ear.
"I love you, too, darling. Now, let's get you dressed and put your hair up. I promise: no ringlets."
"Thanks," Josie laughed. She did not care how popular ringlets became; she thought they made women look like poodles.
An hour later, Josie was clad in her new gown, and Hannah had successfully wrangled her hair into a braided up-do, leaving a few tendrils of raven hair curling softly at the sides of her face. They had managed to unearth Josie's dancing slippers in the depths of her wardrobe, and Josie popped these on before heading downstairs. Their guests would be arriving soon, and Josie intended to maintain her position, as Aunt Rachel put it, as "the lady of the Ponderosa" and act as hostess.
Adam smiled sadly as Josie swept down the stairs. He had not seen Josie this dressed up since their dinner with the captain aboard the Morning Star, and he mourned afresh the loss of the little girl he had carried on his shoulders through Washington. But he was exceptionally proud to call this beautiful young woman his sister.
Ben, Hoss, and Little Joe, however, had never seen Josie this gussied up, and their mouths dropped open in perfect synchronization as they caught their first glimpse of her. Josie's dress had a wide hoop skirt that filled the width of the staircase as she picked her way carefully down the steps. It was made of white-silk taffeta patterned with sprigs of soft green leaves. Around her waist was tied a velvet sash of deep-emerald, which matched the small bows at the center of the low-cut neckline and on each of the ruffled cap sleeves that rested just off of Josie's pale shoulders. Hoss unconsciously straightened his necktie while Little Joe glanced behind him to ensure his gun was still on the sideboard where he could get at it. Ben fought the urge to take off his suit coat and drape it around Josie's shoulders for a bit more coverage. When did ladies' necklines dip so low?
Hannah was resplendent in a short-sleeved gown of burgundy silk, and even Rachel looked quite lovely in a more demure, long-sleeved gown of navy blue, but there was no doubt in any of the Cartwright men's minds that Josie was going to steal the show tonight.
Adam met Josie at the bottom of the stairs and offered her his hand. "You look beautiful," he said.
"Thanks, Adam," Josie replied, taking his hand and allowing him to help her down to the floor. Her small smile turned into a bit of a smirk as she realized that Adam was once more wearing his good cologne and had polished his boots again. His spotless white shirt and pressed black trousers were so crisp that Josie imagined they could stand up on their own, and she wondered if they would bend enough to allow him to sit down.
"Well, everyone, let's go meet our guests!" Ben said, offering Hannah his arm.
Hoss followed suit with Rachel, and Ben, Adam, and Hoss escorted the ladies to the porch, leaving Little Joe alone in the living room. He cast about for a moment before turning to the wolfhound, who was sitting at the bottom of the steps and gazing longingly at Little Joe as if he were hoping the young man would invite him to dance.
Joe sighed. "Come on, Pip," he said, waving the dog toward him. "Looks like it's you and me for now." Pip let out a cheerful yip and trotted happily out of the house alongside Little Joe.
As Rachel and Hannah swept around the yard exclaiming delightedly over the decorations, Adam pulled Josie aside.
"Thank you for wearing that gown tonight," he said. "Aunt Rachel will never say so, but I'm sure she appreciates it. It means a lot to her to be able to show you off. You're a good sport."
Josie shrugged. "It is a beautiful gown," she admitted, gazing down at her expansive skirt. "And I couldn't stand the thought of Molly's hard work going to waste. I like her, and I want everyone to see what she can do. Help her get some more business, you know?"
Adam grinned, and he realized that he was losing track of how many presents he owed Josie the next time he went to San Francisco.
"Besides," Josie continued, "I thought Simon might like it."
Adam's face darkened. "He better not like it too much," he grumbled. "I'd hate to have to shoot him in the middle of the party."
Josie's tinkling laugh told Adam that she had made her comment just to elicit this reaction from him, and he scowled at her.
"Aw, come on, Cousin-Cousin," Josie teased as she tweaked his cheek. "I thought the two of you were on good terms now."
"We are," Adam replied, "but I'll still kill him if he gets too familiar." He shot Josie a good-natured grin.
"You won't have to," Josie placated him. "Don't you remember what a careful girl I am?" She pointed down to her feet and lifted the hem of her gown just high enough to expose her Derringer strapped to her right ankle.
Adam's bark of laughter cut off abruptly as Rachel turned around to glare at the two of them. Josie dropped her skirt to conceal the weapon before Rachel could spot it. She and Adam gazed innocently back at their aunt, both of them nearly in tears from holding back their hysterics.
They were rescued by a wagon drawing up to the barn, and Adam was unsurprised to see Ross Marquette spring from the seat and help Delphine down to the ground. Ross and Delphine were practically members of the Cartwright family and usually were the first to arrive to parties to help with whatever last-minute preparations might be left. Delphine squealed with delight when she saw Josie's gown and immediately asked where she had gotten it. When Josie told her, Dell glanced over at her husband.
"Hey, Ross," she said, batting her eyelashes at him. "You know, my birthday's coming up…"
Ross rolled his eyes. "Great," he muttered to Adam. "Every husband in Virginia City is going to be on the hook for a new dress by the end of this party."
Ross was right. Each woman who arrived on the Ponderosa gushed over Josie's new gown and then cast longing glances at their husbands when they discovered it was the work of a local seamstress. Adam's heart soared as he imagined the mob that would be waiting for Molly's shop to open on Monday morning.
As if on cue, Molly rolled up in a wagon driven by a young man Adam assumed was her younger brother, Fionn. He had the same wavy auburn hair and pale skin as Molly, though as Adam approached the wagon, he noticed the young man's eyes were brown instead of green. The Irishman eyed him suspiciously, but before Adam could extend a hand in greeting, Little Joe shoved past him, nearly knocking him to the ground.
Upon hearing that Molly already had a suitor, Joe had decided his only recourse was to double up on his charm and hope that "some rancher" did not turn up at their party. He was, therefore, determined to greet Molly immediately upon her arrival, and he was annoyed that Adam was blocking his path. That older brother of his always seemed to be in the way. Joe felt no remorse as his peripheral vision caught sight of Adam fighting to keep his feet. Little Joe sidled up to the wagon and proffered his hand to Molly.
"Miss O'Connell!" he greeted her loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I'm so pleased you could make it to our little shindig."
"Thank you, Joseph," Molly replied, looking over Little Joe's shoulder. "Just Adam!" she called out. "Are you all right?"
Adam had regained his balance and was relieved to discover that his little pirouette had not kicked dust up onto his clothes. He smiled at Molly and strode confidently up to the wagon, taking care to subtly elbow Little Joe in the ribs. Molly was resplendent in a brilliant pink silk gown that set off the green of her eyes. Like Josie's gown, Molly's had cap sleeves that sat just off her shoulders and were trimmed with a fine black lace. She wore her long auburn hair in two braids that crisscrossed behind her head in a style Adam thought could have come straight from King Arthur's medieval court. The sight of her took his breath away.
"Just fine, Merely Molly, just fine," Adam replied, taking her hand. "My baby brother here doesn't have the best coordination."
Adam did not have to look over at Joe to know his younger brother was scowling at him; the heat from Little Joe's glare radiated heat all around the yard. Joe did not appreciate Adam's emphasis on the word "baby." He stalked back to the porch muttering "'Some rancher' my foot. How d'ya like that?"
Molly giggled and allowed Adam to lift her from the wagon. Fionn jumped down, too, and Adam extended his hand.
"Adam Cartwright," he said cordially. "You must be Fionn."
"Aye, supposin' I am," the younger man said politely enough, though he kept a wary eye leveled on Adam as he shook his hand.
Adam could feel a chill coursing from Fionn's hand into his own, and he took a step back. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Adam added. "Molly speaks very fondly of you."
Fionn's expression thawed a bit as Molly smiled at him, and it thawed even further when Josie swept over to the wagon to greet her new friend. Molly and Josie exchanged quick cheek-kisses before Molly introduced her to Fionn.
Fionn shook Josie's hand enthusiastically. "Dr. Cartwright!" he exclaimed. "Molly has told me so much about you! And don't you look fine wearin' one of her creations?"
Josie blushed a little at this compliment and was unsure how to respond, but Pip rescued her. He had ambled along behind Josie as she made her way from the porch to the O'Connells' wagon, and Molly and Fionn both gasped as they spotted him.
"Oh, it's all right," Josie assured them. "He's friendly."
But Molly and Fionn did not hear a word Josie said.
"Cú faoil!" they exclaimed in unison.
Fionn dropped to his knees next to the wolfhound and buried his face in Pip's shaggy neck, chattering away to Pip in what Josie and Adam assumed must be the Irish language. It sounded like gibberish to the Cartwrights, but Pip seemed to understand every word and licked Fionn sloppily upside the face.
Molly nearly knelt next to her brother but remembering the hours she had spent working on her gown, she stayed on her feet. She reached out to Pip with both hands and scratched him behind the ears as a half a dozen tears escaped from the corners of her eyes. Pip's tongue lolled happily out the side of his mouth.
"Wherever did you get him?" Molly breathed, her eyes never leaving Pip.
"Adam gave him to me for Christmas a couple years ago," Josie answered. "Had him sent all the way from Boston. His name's Pip. Isn't he beautiful?"
"He's an absolute miracle, he is," Fionn said, standing back up and brushing the dirt from his knees. "Haven't seen the likes of him since we left Ireland, and that were eight years ago." His brown eyes shone at Josie. "You must be a valiant woman, Dr. Cartwright, to earn the respect of such a warrior as this."
Josie blushed again as Adam offered Molly his arm. He was about to take her to meet the other party guests when another wagon rolled up to the barn. Josie broke into a radiant smile as she recognized the Croft family aboard the vehicle. Fionn's eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched Josie rush to greet Simon and Adam hang back to keep an eye on Simon's reaction to Josie's new gown.
"Bit concerned about this young man, are we?" Fionn inquired, his eyes dancing with the same unnerving mischief Adam so often saw in Little Joe's.
Adam glanced over at him, amused that Fionn had called Simon "young" when Simon was a year Fionn's senior. "Not as much as I used to be," Adam answered. "But Simon's never seen her dressed up quite like this, either."
The trio watched as Simon sprang out of the wagon and nearly landed on his face as he got his first good look at Josie in her new dress. Adam heard Fionn chuckle softly behind him as Simon's mouth dropped open and his jaw worked up and down as he tried to find his voice. In plain view of everyone, Simon wrapped an arm around Josie's waist, drew her close against him, and kissed her.
Fionn chuckled again – a bit more loudly this time – as Adam stiffened. He slapped one of Adam's tense shoulders.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Cartwright," he said. "From what I understand, your cousin is well able to take care of herself. But you might remember how this feels as you're walkin' around with me sister." He winked at Adam and Molly and strolled off toward the barbecue pit where Ben and Hop Sing were carving up the first of the two pigs they had roasted for the occasion. Pip glanced over at Josie, decided she was safe with Simon, and followed his new friend Fionn toward the delicious smells.
Adam circulated Molly around the guests for the better part of an hour before they dived into the food. Everyone was excited to meet the young seamstress who had crafted Dr. Cartwright's magnificent gown, and several women promised to stop by her shop that week. Adam was the envy of every eligible young bachelor – and a few of the older ones, too – as he escorted Molly from guest to guest. At long last, they settled at a table to feast on Hop Sing's famous barbecued pork, beans, biscuits, and the first of the season's corn. Josie wanted to sit down with them, but she also did not want to intrude. However, when Fionn escorted a blushing Sally Cass over to their table and plopped down next to Molly, Josie decided the way had been cleared, and she and Simon scuttled over, balancing plates laden with teetering mounds of food. They sat across from Adam and Molly and before long were joined by Hoss and Patience and Little Joe and Rebecca Croft, whose infatuation with Ross Marquette's little brother had worn off. Adam was a bit annoyed by all the intruders, but he remembered how important it had been to Josie to make friends when she was new to town and decided that all the company was probably good for Molly and Fionn. They all fell easily into conversation, Fionn and Molly telling stories of their childhood in Ireland, and Adam chiming in with anecdotes about traveling across the continent with Ben. Hoss kept everyone enthralled with a tale of how he had once wrestled a sea lion on the California coast. He was so convincing that it was a full ten minutes before anyone – even Adam – realized he was making it up, and they all shared a hearty laugh.
"You sure you're not Irish?" Fionn exclaimed, wiping tears from his eyes. "You've got the best gift of gab I've ever seen!"
"Da always said never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn," Molly added.
Resplendent in his new tuxedo, Hop Sing had come around a few minutes before and poured glasses of champagne for everyone. Ben now stood up from his seat at the center table and called for the guests' attention. Hoss nudged Josie and gestured toward Ben, and Josie broke out in giggles when she saw that Widow Hawkins had managed to seat herself right next to him. The gray-haired woman looked up at Ben with sparkling, adoring eyes as he spoke.
"I'd like to thank you all for coming out here this evening," Ben began. "It means a lot to my family and to me to have such wonderful, caring friends and neighbors. We can't thank you enough for all of your gifts, prayers, and hard work while Josie was ill. I'd also like to thank you for giving my sisters-in-law such a warm welcome. You've made putting up with us Cartwrights that much easier for them." He waited for the laughter to die before continuing. "So thank you again for your love and support. To Virginia City!" He raised his glass in a toast.
Everyone raised their glasses as well, repeated "Virginia City!" and drank.
"Oh, and happy birthday, Adam," Ben tacked on.
"Gee, thanks, Pa," Adam called out.
The crowd laughed again as they peppered Adam with birthday greetings.
Molly turned to him, her eyes wide. "You didn't tell me it was your birthday!" she scolded.
"Well, it isn't really," Adam replied. "Not until Monday."
"Close enough. Happy birthday." Molly squeezed Adam's hand and smiled affectionately at him. He smiled back, and the pair held eye contact for several long moments until Little Joe cleared his throat.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel like dancin'," he announced. The musicians Ben had hired had just struck up a lively tune, and Joe extended his hand to Rebecca. She blushed as she took it and let Joe lead her to the clear space in the center of the yard.
Following Joe's lead, Hoss and Fionn both asked their young ladies to dance, and the women accepted happily. Simon very unexpectedly excused himself and dashed away, leaving Josie alone at the table with Adam and Molly. Feeling like a fifth wheel, Josie muttered something about needing to greet all of the guests – she was the hostess, after all – and scooted away from the table.
Casting about desperately, her eyes landed on Sheriff Coffee standing near the barbecue pit as he watched the twirling couples on the dance floor. The lawman looked distinctly uncomfortable, which Josie found odd. Roy Coffee was an old friend of Ben's, and he typically felt as comfortable on the Ponderosa as he did in his own home. Josie glided over and greeted him. She thought it strange when the sheriff did not make eye contact with her when he said hello, and Josie followed his gaze across the yard to Rachel, who was still seated at the head table and jabbering away with Widow Hawkins.
"I don't think she's about to break any laws," Josie teased gently.
Roy jumped as if Josie had snuck up behind him and said "boo."
"A lawman must be always on his guard," Roy defended himself.
Josie was not fooled. "Just go ask her to dance. She won't turn you down."
Roy shifted nervously. "Do I smell like barbecue?" he asked. He had spent the first hour of the party chatting with Ben next to the barbecue pit, and he knew the scent must be clinging to his clothes and what little hair he had left.
Josie leaned over and sniffed his shoulder. "Not unpleasantly."
"Right." Roy took a deep breath and strode over to Rachel.
Josie watched with a smile as the sheriff spoke to her aunt, whose face lit up when he offered her his hand. The pair swept onto the dance floor, Rachel apparently forgetting her earlier objection to the "rough frontier music."
Simon returned, and Josie giggled when she saw he was coming from the direction of the outhouse behind the bunkhouse. Hop Sing's beans were delicious, but they tended not to stick around too long. He grinned at her, extended a freshly scrubbed hand, and led her onto the dance floor where they joined in the spirited reel.
Back at their table, Molly had not let go of Adam's hand after wishing him happy birthday, and while he was keenly aware of her touch, he could not help watching Simon and Josie dance for a few moments. Molly caught him smiling fondly in his cousin's direction and poked him in the shoulder.
"I still can't believe she's your cousin and not your sister," Molly said. "You're so alike."
Adam smiled. "If I had been in charge of the introductions when we first met, that's how I would have introduced her." He explained his and Josie's "cousin-cousin" relationship, and Molly laughed.
"Such a close relation! You're really sure you're not Irish?!" When Adam chuckled, Molly continued. "Have you always been close, then?"
Without thinking twice about it, Adam launched into the story of his journey east for college and how Jacob, Hannah, and Josie had taken him in as their own son and brother. He told her about taking Josie all over Washington, D.C. – to the theater, the Smithsonian, and even tobogganing.
"We grew as close as any brother and sister," Adam said. "Josie and I… we understand each other. She knows what I'm thinking even before I do sometimes, and I can often anticipate what she'll do next." He paused thoughtfully. "That's probably why so many of our chess matches end in stalemates."
Molly laughed, a high tinkling sound that rang across the yard. "I'm surprised you didn't just stay in Washington after college," she remarked.
"I thought about it pretty seriously. Uncle Jacob offered to let me stay with them and help me find work. But Little Joe and Hoss were still young, especially Joe. Pa needed me here."
"Must have been hard, sayin' goodbye to Josie."
"Felt like I was breaking in half," Adam admitted. He paused again. "I considered moving back east a few times once Hoss and Joe were a bit older. Came really close a couple years before the war broke out."
Molly cocked her head to one side and gazed at him, waiting for him to continue. He smiled at her; she had a way of drawing him out, and he elaborated without hesitation.
"I was getting pretty fed up with the West in general. It just seemed so savage and heartless and uncivilized." He shuddered when he realized how much he sounded like Rachel. "And then Little Joe nearly died."
"What happened?" Molly's green eyes were as wide as her dinner plate.
Adam took a deep breath, making sure he had his emotions under control before continuing. This was not a story he was proud of, but there was no way out of telling it now. "He and I were up in some high country hunting a wolf that had been killing our calves. We weren't having any luck, and we'd given up when we heard it howling again. I didn't want to bother with it – I was pretty sure we'd scared it off our land for good – but Little Joe was so determined to get him." He smiled at this. "Joe's an impulsive little scamp, but I have to admire his tenacity.
"Anyway, Joe went after the wolf, and a few minutes later, I heard him firing off shots, so I rode off to help him. I came around a corner, and wouldn't you know, I nearly ran head-on into that old wolf. Without even thinking about it, I grabbed my rifle and fired. I missed the wolf, but I shot Joe right through the shoulder."
Molly gasped and clutched Adam's arm as she murmured something in Irish. Finding her English again, she breathed, "You poor dear. That must have been horrible for you!"
"Not as horrible as it was for Little Joe. As soon as he went down, the wolf jumped on him. Nearly ripped his arm off." Adam lowered his gaze to his empty plate and wished he had not eaten so much. His dinner sat like a rock in his stomach.
Molly could see the guilt in Adam's eyes as fresh as if the incident had just occurred. "Aye, but it were an accident," she soothed.
"That's what everyone told me." Adam lifted his gaze and met Molly's again. "Even Pa said that. But I knew Joe was up there near that wolf. I should have looked twice before firing.
"I did kill the wolf; I cut him down with a second shot while he was attacking Joe, but I had already nearly killed Joe, too. My god, he was only sixteen." Adam ran one hand across his mouth as he trailed off again. Molly sat quietly for a few moments, trying to figure out what – if anything – she should say.
"An accidental shot could happen anywhere," Molly reasoned. "It wasn't a direct result of where you live."
Adam considered her for a moment; he liked her logical thinking. "True," he concurred, "but had we been back east I wouldn't have had to carry Joe on my horse for a day and a half to get him home, only to discover that Dr. Martin was off with another patient and couldn't get to us for another day. I had to cut that bullet out of Joe's shoulder myself with a kitchen knife. Made a mess of it, too. You should see the scars I left him with. He'll have those the rest of his life.
"Then to top it off, when the doctor finally reached us, he was out of the medicine Joe needed, so Hoss had to ride more than twenty miles for it. We almost lost Joe to a fever before he got back.
"Obviously, Little Joe recovered," Adam concluded, leaning back in his chair and stretching his long legs out underneath the table. "But for a long time I didn't want to live in a place so devoid of something as simple as doctors and medicine, a place where a man can die from a treatable wound. I very nearly moved back east then. I even had a letter written to Uncle Jacob asking if I could stay with them in Washington until I could find work and get my own place. Never posted it, though."
"What changed your mind?"
"Joe did," Adam answered with a small chuckle. "When he came back around, all he could talk about was how incredible I was shooting that wolf. Told everyone who would listen how I really clobbered it. Can you believe that? I shoot him, and he idolizes me even more." Adam shook his head. "In the end, I just couldn't leave that little pup."
"You love your brothers very much," Molly observed.
Adam's gaze drifted once more to the dance floor where Hoss and Little Joe were sweeping their young ladies around in circles. "We've been through a lot together," he admitted. "And once we got Josie out here two years ago, I lost all interest in moving east. I realized I had almost everything I needed right here."
"Almost everything?"
Adam smiled at her. "Well, a man needs the companionship of more than just his siblings. But maybe that issue is being resolved, too?" He raised one eyebrow at her.
Molly gave Adam a sly smile of her own. "That depends."
"On what?"
"Can you dance?"
"Try me."
Adam and Molly leapt to their feet, and Adam led them onto the dance floor, where they joined the throng of twirling couples. They danced nonstop for the next hour and a half. While Hoss, Little Joe, and Josie all danced with some of the other guests – Hoss even being so generous as to rescue Ben from Widow Hawkins for a couple of tunes and Fionn teaching Josie how to execute an Irish jig – Adam would not relinquish his hold on Molly. During one slow song, Josie took a breather, sitting down next to her mother while Simon fetched her some lemonade. Josie nudged Hannah and jerked her head in Adam and Molly's direction. Hannah watched her nephew whirl around the dance floor with the young Irishwoman, the pair of them gazing into each other's eyes and smiling, everything outside of themselves nothing but a distraction.
"I do believe Older Brother's falling in love," Josie giggled.
Hannah smiled back. "Encourage this," she whispered. "It would be good for him."
"I will. But I'm still gonna tease him."
"Oh dear," Hannah said. Josie thought she was referring to her threat to tease Adam until she followed Hannah's gaze and saw that Widow Hawkins had grabbed hold of Ben. The eldest Cartwright was too polite to push her away and was now shuffling rather stiffly around the dance floor, keeping as much distance as possible between his body and the widow's. Hannah leapt from her seat and rushed out to the dance floor.
Simon returned with Josie's lemonade, and the pair of them laughed as they watched Hannah cut in on Ben and Clementine. The boardinghouse matron looked like she was about to pitch a fit until Rachel very graciously said she wished to rest and handed Sheriff Coffee off to her friend. The look of relief on Ben's face was nothing short of hilarious, and Simon nearly shot lemonade out his nose.
After a few moments' rest, Simon and Josie rejoined the dancers and danced together until the musicians announced their final number. By now, all the musicians in the area understood that Ponderosa parties always ended in a waltz, so the band struck one up. Instinctively, Simon released Josie, who cast about for Adam. She spotted him on the other side of the dance floor, still holding Molly tightly in his arms. Her face fell, and she fought tears. Josie had always known that someday someone would claim either her or Adam's last dances, but she had not expected it tonight. Not at the party celebrating her recovery. Adam had not danced with her all evening, and Josie had assumed she would get at least their final waltz. Simon realized what was happening and intervened.
"Come on, Josie," he coaxed as he grabbed her hand. "Why don't you teach me how to waltz?"
Josie gave Simon a wan smile, turned her back to Adam, and let Simon lead her back to the dance floor.
Across the yard, Adam's brain finally processed the musicians' announcement that this was the final number and realized that they were playing a waltz. He peered over Molly's shoulder at Josie just in time to see her face crumple and Simon lead her away.
"Uh oh," he gasped, frantically shifting his gaze back and forth between Josie's slumped shoulders and Molly's shining eyes. Adam was torn. He hated to let go of Molly, but the thought of disappointing Josie broke his heart.
Molly could see the conflict on Adam's face. "What's the matter?" she asked.
Adam quickly explained his and Josie's tradition. "But I hate to abandon you," he added.
Molly smiled kindly at him. "Traditions are important," she told him. "You should honor yours." She stepped back, leaving him a clear path to the center of the dance floor where Josie was counting aloud to keep Simon in step. Seeing how quickly the young man was picking up the waltz bruised Adam's pride a little, and he realized he had better grab Josie before Simon showed him up.
Adam grinned and kissed Molly on the cheek. "Don't you go anywhere," he commanded playfully. "I'll be back for you."
He strode over to Josie and Simon and tapped Simon on the shoulder. Josie's face lit up when she saw Adam grinning at her over Simon's shoulder, and even Simon broke out in a relieved smile. He hated seeing Josie disappointed as much as Adam did.
Adam swept an arm around Josie's waist and gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry I'm late."
"Aw, I wasn't worried," Josie replied, grinning back at him.
Simon wandered to the edge of the dance floor to watch Adam and Josie dance. The pair of them made waltzing look effortless. He glanced over at Little Joe and Rebecca and snickered as Little Joe stepped on Rebecca's feet – again – and she glared at him.
"Apparently, the dance skills don't run all the way through the family."
Simon jumped at the lilting brogue in his ear; he had not heard Molly come up behind him. He glanced over at the young woman and grinned. "Evidently not," he agreed.
The pair of them chuckled and watched the dancers for a few moments. Just to be polite, Simon was about to invite Molly to dance when Molly muttered "Oh, dear."
Simon asked what was wrong, and Molly gestured across the dance floor to where Widow Hawkins was once more closing in on Ben like a hungry barn cat about to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse.
"Looks like Mr. Cartwright could use some rescuin'," Molly observed. She smiled at Simon one last time and raced over to Ben, reaching him just before the widow. Clementine shot daggers at the young woman, but Simon had never seen Ben Cartwright smile so brightly. He and Molly fell easily into the waltz.
Glancing around, Simon was surprised to see Hannah sitting alone at the edge of the dance floor, so he crossed over to her, gave her a low bow, and extended his right hand.
"May I have the honor of this dance, Mrs. Cartwright?"
"The honor would be mine, Mr. Croft," Hannah replied, smiling and placing her hand in Simon's.
The dancing couples waltzed around the dance floor and groaned in disappointment when the song ended. Adam gave Josie a hug and whispered in her ear, "No matter what, if you need me, you just speak up, all right?"
Josie smiled into his shirtfront. "All right," she replied.
Adam kissed her forehead. "I love you, Little Sister."
"I love you, too, Older Brother. But I think you better go get Molly back before Uncle Ben proposes." She cocked her head in the direction of Molly and Ben, who were laughing animatedly as they walked arm-in-arm toward the lemonade table.
"Hey!" Adam exclaimed and rushed off to reclaim his date.
Josie giggled as Simon came up behind her and threaded an arm around her waist. She leaned her head back against his chest and sighed contentedly.
"Your ma's a good dancer," Simon informed her. "I think I may finally have caught on to waltzing."
"That's good," Josie replied. "It's only taken you thirteen years."
Simon grinned at Josie's teasing and spun her around to face him. She smiled up at him and leaned in for a soft kiss. They lingered there, lips together, until they heard a throat clearing loudly behind them. Josie turned around to see her uncle standing there, one eyebrow raised.
"Ahem," he said drily.
"Yes?" Josie asked, all wide-eyed innocence.
Ben fought to maintain his stern countenance. "Our guests are leaving. I need my hostess to help bid them farewell."
"Yes, of course." Josie squeezed Simon's hand and took Ben's proffered arm.
The Cartwrights spent the next forty-five minutes saying goodbye to and thanking their guests. Everyone exclaimed once more over Josie's new gown, and at least a dozen more women sought out Molly and promised to come by her shop that week. Adam thought he would never be able to get a private word with Molly, but he watched carefully, and as soon as there was a break in Molly's well-wishers, Adam grabbed her hand, and they darted around the side of the house.
Molly giggled as Adam pulled her into a shadow out of view of the lingering guests. Adam wound his arms around her waist and laced his fingers at the small of her back. He said nothing for several long moments; he just stood there and let himself get lost in her face. A few tendrils of auburn hair had worked loose from her braids and now framed the sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks that twinkled up at him like so many stars. Her eyes sparkled despite the dim shadow they stood in, and Adam pulled her against him and leaned down to kiss her.
It was the invitation Molly had been waiting for, and she tilted her head upward to accept his kiss. Their lips needed no introduction, and a thrill shot down Adam's spine as they met. He was grateful for the multiple layers of cotton, silk, and crinoline between them so Molly could not feel his immediate physical reaction. He eased his hips back an inch or two just in case, but Molly took a step forward, keeping herself pressed up against Adam and backing him against the side of the house. His left hand slid up her back and rested gently on the back of her neck as their mouths opened. Molly inhaled sharply as Adam ran his tongue across the back of her teeth, tickling her gums. Adam's lips left hers, and she leaned her head back to expose her throat as his kisses traveled down her neck.
Back in the yard, Josie was growing concerned over Adam's prolonged absence. She had seen him pull Molly away and had distracted Rachel so she would not see her nephew dragging a young lady into the shadows, but surely someone would soon notice that Adam was not among them. Two days shy of his thirty-third birthday, Adam was certainly entitled to slip away for a bit of necking with a comely young woman if the spirit moved him, but that did not mean Aunt Rachel would not cause an embarrassing scene. Josie heaved a sigh of relief when Rachel and Widow Hawkins went inside to fetch Abigail Myers' shawl.
Fionn bumped Simon out of the way and sidled up to Josie, ignoring Simon's glare of indignation. "Would appear your brother's made off with me sister," the Irishman observed. He laughed merrily at the uneasy expression on Josie's face. "Don't worry, I'll flush him out." Fionn took a few steps toward the center of the yard and hollered, "Cartwright! I know you've got me sister! If you're gettin' her in any trouble, we're goin' to have words!" His warning issued, Fionn stuffed a fist in his mouth to keep from laughing so he could listen for a reaction. His eyes dancing with mischief, he shot a look over his shoulder at Josie, who had pursed her lips to keep from laughing herself. She reached over and pinched Little Joe, who was about to explode in laughter, too. Simon was the only one who did not look amused. He was still glaring at Fionn, anger burbling up over both the Irishman's pushing him and his attempts to humiliate Adam. His initial fear of the eldest Cartwright son had evolved into a solid respect for the man, and Simon resented Fionn's trying to embarrass him.
On the side of the house, Adam froze at the sound of Fionn's voice, his lips still pressed to the little hollow at the base of Molly's throat. He looked up at Molly and even in the dark could see that her face was turning bright red, though with anger or embarrassment, Adam could not say. Despite his best efforts, Adam began to laugh softly. Molly cocked her head to one side and stared at him quizzically.
"So that's what that feels like," he chuckled, more to himself than to Molly. "Poor Simon. I've been so hard on him."
Molly relaxed a bit and laughed, too, as she realized what a stern talking to Simon must have received regarding Josie. "Brothers," she said, shaking her head. "Most obnoxious creatures God ever put on this Earth."
Adam agreed as he caressed Molly's cheek. "I'll come see you in town very soon," he promised. "And in the meantime, I don't want any other men calling on you."
Molly pulled away from his touch and stuck her hands on her hips. "Are you presumin' to tell me what to do, Adam Cartwright?" She dropped her stern expression and laughed as she watched Adam try to work out an appropriate response. She stepped closer to him once more. "Don't you worry, Just Adam," she purred as her right hand reached up to play with the tiny hairs at the nape of his neck. "I don't want any other men callin' on me either. Any man besides you darkens my door better be wantin' a new dress."
Adam snorted as an image of Little Joe in a frilly skirt and matching bonnet passed through his mind.
"Cartwright!" Fionn called out again. "You're not the only man in this territory to be ownin' a forty-five, you know!"
Adam whispered a quick plan to Molly that he hoped would save her from embarrassment, and then he slipped away behind the bunkhouse. A moment later he emerged, sans Molly, in the center of the yard.
He strolled across the yard, his thumbs hitched in his pockets. "What seems to be the trouble, Fionn?"
Fionn stared at Adam dubiously as the older man approached him.
"Where'd you leave my sister?"
Before Adam could answer, Molly stepped out of the front door of the house and onto the porch.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Fionn O'Connell!" she chided. "What do you mean by hollerin' your lungs out in the middle of civilized company? Our poor old Mam would roll over in her grave if she knew you were carryin' on so!"
Fionn's mouth dropped open. He had watched Molly disappear around the side of the house with Adam, and he could not fathom how she had managed to come out of the front door just now. He peered at her dress and could see no tell-tale wrinkles or snags that would give evidence to her having gone in through a window – not that she could have fit through a window in her enormous hoopskirt anyway.
Josie caught Simon's eye, and they both had to bite their lower lips as they watched the understanding arise on each other's faces. Clearly, Adam had slipped through the shadows behind the bunkhouse to make it look as though he had been in the outhouse the entire time while Molly dashed behind the house and in the side door to the kitchen.
Molly cut Fionn off before he could utter a protestation. "Hop Sing was just showin' me your house, Mr. Cartwright," she said to Ben. "It's absolutely beautiful."
Ben beamed at her and envied Adam his youth. "Oh, well," he said modestly. "The credit goes to Adam. The entire house was his design."
Molly slapped Adam's arm. "You didn't tell me that!" she scolded.
"It didn't come up," Adam answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Adam's amazing with buildings," Josie boasted. "He designed my clinic, too." The look of pure admiration Josie gave Adam made Molly smile.
"Well, Mr. Cartwright," Fionn began, extending his hand to Ben, who shook it warmly, "I want to thank you for all your hospitality this evenin'. Perhaps Molly and I can have you and your family over to our home, once we've got it fixed up a bit more."
Ben accepted the offer, and the O'Connells bid the rest of the Cartwrights farewell. Josie and Molly embraced warmly, and Little Joe shook Fionn's hand vigorously.
"We've got some real good fishin' here on the Ponderosa, if you ever wanna try your luck," Little Joe invited him. Josie shook her head. Fionn O'Connell seemed every bit as mischievous as Little Joe, and she imagined the pair of them could get up to all sorts of trouble.
Adam escorted Molly to the O'Connells' wagon and lifted her up into the seat. She leaned down and kissed him one last time in full view of everyone.
"Don't forget, you promised to come visit me," Molly whispered.
"At my first opportunity," Adam replied.
"Easy now, Cartwright," Fionn warned playfully as Adam kissed Molly again. Adam grinned and waved a submissive hand toward Fionn, who slapped the horse's rump with the reins. As the wagon faded into the dark night, Adam was certain he saw Molly haul back and punch her little brother in the side of the head. He was still gazing after the vanishing wagon when Little Joe sidled up to him.
"'Some rancher,' eh?" Joe sneered.
"I stand by the accuracy of my statement." Adam grinned at Joe. "Sorry, Little Brother. Finders keepers, and I found her first. Besides, you didn't seem too bad off tonight. Looks like you got Rebecca's attention back."
"Yeah," Little Joe grudgingly agreed. "Just have to figure out how to keep it this time."
Adam assured Joe he had great faith in his charm, draped an arm around his little brother's shoulders, and led him back toward the house.
While Adam was busy saying his final farewell to Molly, Simon pulled Josie aside for a quick goodbye kiss.
"Thank you for starting off that waltz with me," Josie said softly. "You have no idea how much that meant."
"I can't stand to see you sad," Simon admitted. He swallowed hard. "I… I love you, Josie."
Josie's stomach leapt, and she had to squelch an embarrassingly girlish urge to squeal. Her hazel eyes lit up, and she could not tamp down the huge, goofy smile that spread across her face.
She meant to say, "I love you, too," but all that came out was a high-pitched "Really?!"
Simon laughed. "Really, really," he said. Then more seriously, he added, "Since I was ten years old."
Josie grinned again, but this time she recovered her senses. "I love you, too, Simon," she whispered.
Simon's face lit up so brightly that Josie was nearly blinded. They kissed again, Simon pulling Josie tightly against him and, like Adam, finding himself grateful for the multiple layers of fabric between himself and his sweetheart. As they broke breathlessly apart, Simon ran a finger down Josie's cheek.
"I'm so sorry, but I have to go," he said, cocking his head in the direction of his family's waiting wagon. "I have got to start riding my own horse to these things. But we'll continue this conversation later?"
"Absolutely."
Simon tore himself away from Josie and scampered off toward his family's wagon as Adam and Little Joe came back across the yard. Hoss and Ben were taking down the silk lanterns, but even in the darkening yard Josie could see Adam's broad grin. She smiled back at the sight of the brothers ambling across the yard together, Adam's arm still draped around Little Joe's shoulders; despite Adam's protestations to the contrary, he really did enjoy Little Joe. It was a perfect ending to a perfect night, but it made Josie sad, too, as she wondered how many more nights they would all have together on the Ponderosa. She and Simon were apparently growing serious, as were Hoss and Patience, and now Adam had his sights set on someone as well. She knew someday she would miss having her cousins just down the hall, but she supposed as long as none of them moved far away that things would be all right. She skipped over to Adam and Joe, linked her arm through Adam's, and walked into the house with them.
As Josie bid everyone goodnight and she and Hannah made to go up the stairs, Adam grabbed hold of her arm and gave her another hug, ignoring Rachel's protest that he would crush the taffeta of Josie's gown.
"Remember what I said," he whispered into her ear. "I'm always here if you need me. No matter what."
Josie smiled up at him. "Right back at ya, Older Brother." She kissed his cheek and pranced upstairs behind her mother.