It was the spring, the first spring that Adam and his daughter would get to spend together. What a pair the two of them made, it was only right that the two of them belonged together. Adam's life became more full and happier, than he could ever remember. Little Samantha's life was full of what she always wanted a daddy, She and her daddy were always doing something together. She also had two wonderful Uncles and a grandpa who loved and spoiled her very much.
It was a beautiful spring day, Adam, his brothers and his father were working while Samantha stayed at the house with Hopsing. The Cartwrights had a long hard day on the ranch and ready to get home to Samantha, Adam most of all was ready to get back home. He missed his daughter very much. The Cartwrights rode up to the house expecting to see Samantha out in the yard ready to greet them, but she wasn't there. The house was too quiet.
Adam dismounted his horse, "Something is wrong, I can feel it." Adam ran into the house, "Samantha!" He searched all over the house but no one was there.
Adam ran back to his father and brothers and told them that no one was in the house. Just then Hopsing rode up in the buckboard, followed by the doctor in his wagon. Doc Martin got out of his wagon and took little sleeping Samantha in his arms and made his way toward the house.
"Samantha!" yelled Adam as he ran over the doctor.
"No Adam, don't come any closer."
Adam stopped a few feet away, "What? Why? She's my daughter, what's wrong with her?" The doctor gave him a sympathetic look and then turned to Ben.
"Ben, has Adam ever had Scarlet Fever?"
"Scarlet Fever!" Adam exclaimed.
"No, Doc, only Joe, Hoss, and myself have had it, Adam was away at college, when we had it."
"Adam, I'm sorry but you can't see her, also I can't let you stay in the house either."
The doctor, Hopsing, and Hoss went into the house to get Samantha settled in her bed. Adam in a sprint took off for the house, "Samantha!" He cried over and over again, as he ran for the door. But Adam got stopped by his father and his brother.
"Samantha!" Adam cried as tears ran down his face, his already shaking knees buckled beneath him as he fell into hysterical sobs wishing for nothing more than to hold his sweet little girl. His father and brother kneeling close to his side tried to comfort him.
Back inside the house, everyone was trying to make little Samantha comfortable.
"Daddy!" she cried over and over again. All she wanted was her daddy there to hold her and make her better, but the doctor wouldn't let him see her. Her room, the house, her sheets, cloth , and anything else that might have come in contact with Samantha had to be clean and washed.
"Daddy!" She cried until she was going hoarse. At hearing her cries it broke her uncle's heart. It was wrong to keep Samantha and Adam apart but it was for his own good. Hopsing, Hoss, and the Doctor finally got Samantha settled down and resting. The child was running a high fever and time would only tell what would happen next.
Back outside Ben and Little Joe helped Adam bed down the horses and fix him up a bed in the bunkhouse, with the ranch hands out moving the cattle to the north pasture, it made the bunk house the perfect place for Adam to stay. But for Adam staying in the bunk house was hell, all he wanted to do was hold his little girl and tell her everything was going to be alright. All throughout Adam's life he had always been the strong, silent, calm one but now Adam let his walls fall and for the first time in his life he felt helpless and scared.