Well, here it is - the END. But it's been a fun journey and I wanted to thank all of you for making it so - BJ2, ChristyG, BettyHT, cma, westernsoul, Guest(s), A Fan, drmweaver, Visage and Tauna Petit-Strawn.
I live for reviews (my beta calls me a review whore - I can't deny it) and I thank you for all of them. Now that my BZ juices are flowing I plan on reposting all of my old BZ stories. But first I have to work on my CSI opus and finish a contest entry but you will see me back so be on the look out.
Thank you again! :-D
Onward ~
Epilogue – 16 days later
"You can't be Elen Trundell," Adam said, eyes wide with surprise taking in the 17 year old beauty before him. "The last time I saw you . . ."
"About as big as a minute," she responded with a bright gleam in her eye trying desperately not to wince at the sight of burns and bandages covering the handsomest man she'd ever known.
It had been 16 days since the 'takedown at Doc Bick's' as the citizens of Chance called it and the partying was still going on. Of course an additional stage full of whiskey, supplies and medicines aided the festivities as well.
The town was still in the process of cleaning up – Darby's was still doing business (couldn't keep them down for long) while undergoing a rebuild along with the other buildings that had taken damage from Drey Grisham's diversion. Doc Bick's office had been sponged clean of blood and shattered glass and Adam, who'd slept through all the commotion, was now up and taking nourishment albeit in a wheelchair.
And since no one could make it out to Bob Trundell's as originally planned, he brought his entire brood to town – his lovely wife, Ella, and their six children: Ethan, Edward, Elen, Elisa, Efrem and Ellis. Along with the Trundell's were Darby owners Brownie Dutreau and Ginger Span along with Jed Hopker and Finny Blemmer.
As for the Marshall, well, Trace was up and walking about much to the consternation of the good doctor, and was adamant about returning home. His first sojourn out to get Henry resulted in him being carted back to the doctor's house flat on his back. The second only got him as far as the front door. It was when he found Hoss standing over him, hands on his hips, that he decided he might stay awhile.
And that all led up to the feast on this fine day in Chance.
Leslie's house was brimming with food and people all currently seated about the largest table they could pull from the Southern Belle. Wine, whiskey and beer flowed; beef was prevalent and all of Hop Sing's finest dishes (made mostly with the pile of vegetables and potatoes brought from the Trundell house) dotted the table. Clinking utensils and sounds of 'pass me this' or 'pass me that' echoed about a room that had just recently been buried in blood and death. It seemed to cleanse it somehow, make it whole, bring it back to what it was supposed to be – a house of healing.
"I had a growth spurt over the five years you haven't seen me," Elen concluded smiling at Adam then turning away to spear a piece of meat and bring it to her plate. He just grinned glad he could partake in anything let alone a bit of joshing.
He'd come awake an hour after all the fuss wondering why Joe had blood on him and Hoss was cleaning the floor. It took another hour for the whole story to be conveyed with multiple participants, too many as far as Adam was concerned, and it made his head spin. What he did understand was that only a wooden door, Hop Sing's rifle, Joe and the Marshall had been between him and the final curtain and for that he was most grateful.
And now he was glaring at Joe who sat four seats from him giggling into his hand.
"Joseph," Ben said sternly.
"I'm sorry," he got in between more giggles.
"Your brother is having trouble using his hands."
"I know," he continued giggling.
"Here, let me," Elen said with a charming smile, taking the knife from Ben and proceeding to finish cutting Adam's beef. "I don't see the harm in helping out a friend especially when he's suffered through so much recently."
"And I thank you, Elen," came Adam's answer as he passed a sweet smile toward Joe whose giggles began to fade away, his eyes moving from Adam toward Ben then Hoss then onto the gathered all giving him hard looks and shakes of the head.
"Sorry, Adam," he gave his brother without looking at him.
"No problem, Joe," he answered. "I was trying to figure out myself how I was going to master this little chore. And, my, but don't I have a pretty meat cutter at that?" He smiled at Elen noting her blush.
Ben cleared his throat hoping to take this conversation in a different direction. "Leslie, Trace, Hop Sing" he said drawing their attention as he raised his glass of wine. "I just wanted to thank you all for being in the right place at the right time when Adam needed you most. Without any of you, he might not be here today."
"Hear, hear," everyone agreed taking a drink and lowering their glasses.
"I, too, want to offer my thanks," Adam began holding up a wine glass with both hands. "Without the good doctor and Hop Sing and Jed Hopker I'd still be in a world of hurt or worse. And, Marshall, well if you hadn't stuck to your guns and fought like a madman and Joe, if you hadn't shown up when you did, a little bitty door wouldn't've been enough to delay the inevitable."
He turned his gaze toward the end of the table. "But I especially want to thank my brother, Hoss," he added capturing those baby blues. "For without that man's strength, devotion and comfort, I might've just left this plane of existence and ventured away from everyone and everything I love. Thank you, Hoss, for being my brother and my friend."
Joe's whoop was the loudest followed by everyone else as they looked toward Hoss whose face turned all the glorious shades of red. But he kept his eyes on Adam knowing the sentiment was true for he felt the same.
The spell was broken when Bob rose from the table and headed toward a crate near the door.
"What'cha got there, Bob?" Jed asked.
"Well," he began pulling off the top of the crate. "Since everyone knows that the best thing about Doc Bick's entry was a lovely punchbowl, and young Cartwright over there broke it." He stopped then and eyed Joe.
"It was an emergency!" he nearly shouted. "Doc needed bandages!"
"Settle, Joseph," Ben whispered.
Bob grinned. "We, the missus and I, thought it should be replaced." With that he reached into the crate and pulled out an exact replica of the shattered punchbowl.
Leslie's brows flew up his head as he traded looks with the elder Trundell's. "I can't accept that, Bob," Leslie exclaimed.
"Of course you can," Ella gave him placing a hand over his. "I don't ever use it and it's so beautiful, well, people need to see it. Don't have many folks come out to our place. It needs to be here."
"Ella . . ."
"You better take it, Doc," Edward whispered. "Ma's afraid the young'uns'll break it."
"Would not!" Ellis and Efrem (the young'uns in question) exclaimed bringing smiles to everyone's faces thus ending Leslie protestations.
"All right. Thank you, Ella," he said kissing her cheek. "And you, too, Bob."
"It was Elise's idea," he answered.
Leslie turned to the pretty 15 year old. "Thank you, Miss Elise. I'll always think of you when I look at it." She blushed like mad and nodded her head making everyone grin.
Placing the bowl in its proper place, Bob stopped behind Joe and leaned in real close. "No more running through the front door."
"Good luck with that," Hop Sing stated off-handedly making everyone laugh, Joe picking out Adam's laugh amongst the others. It didn't bother him because it was a good sound, a sound he thought he'd never hear again.
The discussions picked up and moved around the table, food was eaten, laughs were traded, stories were told until all the food was gone and Adam had fallen asleep in his chair. A blanket being tucked about him woke him and he fought the idea of going to bed until he was reminded that the sooner he went to sleep the sooner it would be morning - a day when they would be heading home. His good nights couldn't be said quickly enough bringing chuckles to the group as dishes were cleaned and coffee passed around for a quiet evening in Chance.
BZBZBZBZBZ
"Now this is the way to travel," Adam commented with a sigh as he let his battered body sink into the soft mattress in the back of the wagon, wincing slightly.
"Ya all right there?" Hoss asked hesitating to put the sheet on him.
Adam smiled up at his brother. "I'll be fine. Don't worry so."
"Cain't help it," he answered laying the sheet gently over his brother's damaged body.
"I appreciate that. Don't think I don't."
Hoss just nodded and gave him a smile.
The wagon had been Jed's idea. Seemed to him that the only decent way to get home was smooth and slow as opposed to a stage that managed to hit every hole and blew dirt in everyone's faces until a week of bathing was needed. The ladies over at Darby's got wind of the project and quickly put together a canvas to stretch over the top while Butch and Clancy put together the slats needed to hold it up. The mattress was donated by the Red Slipper along with blankets and sheets and the horses came from King Verell's livery - Barney and Bette – stout draft horses capable of pulling Adam home. It had been a community affair surprising Ben but not Leslie who knew the citizens of Chance were a fine group despite what everyone might think.
"Keep the pace slow and steady and make sure that you change his bandages three times a day," Adam heard as Leslie approached with Ben and groaned making the good doctor smile. "Being that you'll be out in the sand we need to make sure that it doesn't infiltrate his wounds."
"I make sure," Hop Sing said climbing into the back of the wagon.
"I'm sure you will," Leslie smiled. "And the canvas should shield him from much of the harsh sun."
"Please give my thanks to the ladies again, Doc," Adam said as Hop Sing fluffed his pillow.
"The ladies accept your thanks," came from Ginger as she and Brownie stepped up next to Ben who tipped his hat. Adam glanced over and smiled.
"And you have mine as well," Ben added.
"Have a safe trip," Ginger said.
"When you get healed up, come on back," Brownie gave Adam with a wink.
"I'll see what I can do," he gave her watching her smile.
"Even all burned up you still get the ladies," Joe said with a shake of his head as he hauled Hop Sing's bags into the wagon.
"It's my twinkly smile," he gave his brother providing an example only to have Joe roll his eyes.
"I bet ol' Sport's been missing ya somethin' fierce," Hoss added.
"No more than I've missed him," Adam answered with a yawn. "Can't wait to get home and sleep in my own bed."
"We be there soon," Hop Sing provided patting Adam on the shoulder.
"Well, let's get a move on then," Ben ordered shaking Leslie's hand before turning to the Marshall leading Henry toward them. He held out his hand again. Trace easily took it. "I can't thank you enough, Marshall."
"Just doin' my job. You take care'a Adam there and maybe I'll take ya up on your offer ta visit once I get home back under my feet for a spell."
"We'll be expecting you."
Trace touched the brim of his hat and turned toward Leslie. "Doctor, thanks for fixin' me up. Sorry we messed up your place some."
"No worries. I'm just glad it's all over. If you're ever this way again . . ."
"I'll be sure ta stop by," he finished with a smile. "Adam, Hoss, Joe, Hop Sing." He nodded toward them then mounted. "Come on, Henry. Time ta go home." Henry's ears pricked up at that then nodded his head ending with a short whiny.
"I'm with Henry," Hoss said tying off Chubb and Buck to the back of the wagon before climbing onto the seat, Ben following close behind.
"Take care, Cartwrights!" Leslie shouted as Joe vaulted into Cochise's saddle and tailed after the departing wagon, Bob and his family coming up alongside.
"Thought we'd tag along for a bit," he informed Ben. "No telling what bandits you might run into."
"Say we never made it out ta check up on them Brahmas," Hoss mentioned.
"No matter. When you return Barney and Bette we'll have a look see then."
Ben just smiled and glanced back into the wagon to see Hop Sing rubbing some salve on Adam's hands. "You okay back there?" he asked.
"We fine," Hop Sing answered as Adam watched out the back silently saying goodbye to Chance.
His thoughts traveled back to those first hours as he lay in the sun and sand and figured he was going to die. It was only when he thought he saw Hoss's hat that a flicker of hope raised its head – at least he wouldn't die alone. Now he was in the grasp of his entire family heading home and, boy, did that feel good.
"You sleep, Mista Adam," Hop Sing whispered. "Best medicine – sleep."
"I agree with you there."
With that he closed his eyes and dreamed of home, thanking Chance for giving him . . . a second chance.
Ta-da! A happy ending as it should be for our favorite family. Thank you all again for your support and I'll see you soon. :-D