Chapter 13

The last to exit the stage was a young lady in a simple plain dress, her hair was long, dark brown and her eyes were green. James spoke up, "O and this is my ward, Emily."

Emily walked up to Ben and in soft yet confident voice said, "Mr. Cartwright it is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is mine. May I introduce my granddaughter Samantha and my oldest son, Adam."

Adam stepped forward and greeted the young lady with his most charming smile.

After all the welcomes Ben lead his friend over to the carriage, where the twins had already climbed in the back seat taking up as much room as possible and James Smith took a seat up front then looked backed at Emily, "Emily," he said to her in an almost stern voice, "stay and load the luggage in the other wagon there is no room for you to ride back with us."

Ben and Adam just stared for James and his two twins purposely took up the extra room. Ben and Adam knew that there was plenty of room for her; they both gave her an apologetic look. Emily didn't say a thing she started to load the luggage in the wagon. Adam looked at his father with a questionable look; his father just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Ben climbed up in the wagon and proceeded home.

Adam picked up Samantha and she immediately put her head on his shoulder, "Are you getting tired?"

She shook her head no, but he could tell that she was. Adam made his way over to the buckboard, "Miss Emily, I'll finish loading the luggage. I'm sure you are tired from your trip."

"Well yes I am a bit tired, Mr. Cartwright."

"Miss Emily, please just call me Adam." He said.

"Alright then Adam it is and you can just call me Emily. May I take her, so that you can finish loading up the luggage?" Adam handed Samantha to Emily and it was only a matter of time they were on their way to the Ponderosa. They had just gotten out of town when a very sleepy Samantha spoke up, "Daddy, I don't like that man."

"Mr. Smith?" he questioned her.

"Yes." She replied.

"I don't like him either." Emily said just above a whisper. That whisper didn't go undetected by Adam. He had heard her comment but decided it was best not to say anything right now.

By the time that they were half way to the house Samantha had fallen asleep in Emily's arms, "Samantha trust you." Adam said to Emily. "She doesn't trust people right away but it seems that she trust you like she did me when I first found her."

"When you found her? I thought Samantha was your biological daughter."

Adam stopped the buckboard and look directly at Emily, "No she is my adopted daughter, I've never been married. Last October, I found her in the woods. She was traveling with her aunt and uncle, they were her only family. They were shot and killed by some robbers, Samantha luckily got away. So I took her home with me and had the sheriff to found out if she had any family, she didn't. So I adopted her, I love her with all my heart and more. But since the day I found her it took her a while to trust strangers there are only a hand full of people in town that she trust and is comfortable around. That's why it surprises me that she seems to trust you right away normally she doesn't let just anyone hold her."

The rest of the trip to the Ponderosa was fairly quiet. They had arrived at the Ponderosa a little later then they should have because one of the horses had slipped a shoe. Little Joe and Hoss came out of the house and began unloading the luggage. Emily still hold little sleeping Samantha climbed down from the wagon.

Adam approached her, "Little Joe already took Mary's luggage up so, if you wouldn't mind carrying Samantha, I'll take some of your luggage upstairs and show you your room."

"No, Adam, I don't mind." She said and then followed him into the house.

Up in her and Mary's room, Adam set down her luggage and then took Samantha from her, "Samantha's room is next door and my room is across the hall from hers. Let me know if you need anything."

Once Adam left, Mary shut the door, "You were late, and I needed my luggage an hour ago. How am I supposed to freshen up if I don't have my things."

Mary's voice was raised, and Adam could hear everything that was said.

"I'm sorry, Mary." Emily apologized, "One of the horses slipped a shoe, so we had to go slower."

"Well Emily, all I have to say is that you are nothing just like mother of yours was. And if you think I am going to share a room with you then you thought wrong." Mary picked up Emily's bags and then threw them into the hallway; she then proceeded to push Emily out of the room. "Go sleep in the barn for all I care." Mary slammed the door in Emily's face.

A moment later Adam was in the hallway next to her and immediately picked up Emily's bags. Adam didn't say anything about what had just happened.

"You can have my room, I'll sleep in Samantha's room with her."