Idle Hands ~ Chapter 4

Adam was incensed, his little brother was pulling against him, yet again.

"Joe we have to maintain a united front. I said we'd work late, get the order finished. They went behind my back to you, 'Aw it's Friday Joe can't we knock off early' and you let them."

"Oh give it a rest Adam, you've nothin more to prove. What does it matter if the order goes out late on Monday."

"I'm not trying to prove anything Joe but look, they've all knocked off now without cleaning up the area."

Joe looked around at the scattered tools and log pieces everywhere and inwardly he had to agree. They took him for a mug.

To Adam he yelled "I'll clean up, just don't keep on, you sound like such a woman sometimes."

Hoss dismounted and without a word began picking up tools and carrying them up to the shack.

Adam said no more. He didn't know where his foreman had picked up such a rabble of no goods but he wasn't going to hire any of them ever again. This job had taken nearly twice as long as it should have.

~o~

By the time he got home it was dark and he was tired. His back ached and his heart ached even more. Right then he hated just about everything to do with ranching and he had no kind feelings for his youngest brother either. Things hadn't been going too well between himself and Joe lately. Joe was giving him attitude on just about every decision he had made. It was starting to wear on him.

His thoughts were interrupted then. He was surprised to hear yelling within his house and he grimaced as he went to take the saddle from sport and settle him for the night. He went in then and took off his gun belt and hat leaving them on the side table.

"Adam, you're late. Everything ok?" Sam asked wiping her hands on her apron.

"Crap day," he told her.

"Aww, never mind," she put her arms about his neck and kissed him. "I have your favourite Shepherds pie in the oven."

"That's just what I need," he said with a dimpled grin.

"I'll just get it ready," she headed into the kitchen.

"What was the yelling about," he asked.

She came back out of the kitchen "oh, don't worry, it was just Janet. Adam she's taken up with this boy who works at the livery stable. He's way too old for her. I can't condone that."

"A boy?, she's 11."

"I know and he's 17." Sam told him, her face worried.

"Oh Adam, come on, sit and eat." She called after him as he headed for the stairs.

"Keep it warm, I'll be down in a minute." He told her.

~o~

Adam knocked once and headed into Janet's room.

She was sitting crossed legged on her bed a teddy resting on her lap.

He went and sat at her desk.

"Come here," he told her sternly.

Janet went and stood before him nervously.

"Did you shout at Sam?" He asked.

Janet nodded.

"Words please Janet."

"Yes sir." She said, her voice barely a whisper.

"You are not allowed to shout at people you know that, it's disrespectful in the extreme," he told her, his voice quiet, his face very serious.

"What if I started shouting at you, or at Sam or Ronald, what would you think?"

"Well Janet?" He coaxed her, lowering his face slightly to catch her eye.

"I wouldn't like it." She said quietly, her fingers fidgeting.

"No you wouldn't. Sam is trying to help you. This boy is too old for you, he needs to find someone more his own age."

"But I like him, he's my friend." She pleaded.

"Janet you're 11 years old. He's far too old for you. He'll expect a lot more from you than you're able to give."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Adam was silent for a moment.

"What do you mean Adam?" She asked again, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"You mean like kissing?"

"I mean...no dessert for you tonight." He got up awkwardly. "You're not to go shouting at people."

He went to the bed, took the teddy and handed it back to her and left the room without another word.

Janet puzzled over this as she stood, still clutching the teddy, listening to Adam calling for Sam as he headed back down the stairs.

That night Sam went to Janet's room with her supper and they had a good old chat about everything. Sam thought she explained it alright and Janet seemed to understand and take it well except she gave Adam some strange looks for the next week or two making him rather uncomfortable.

~o~

One day, soon after, Sam found herself cornered by Abigail Winters and Marsha Addams. She had just come from the mercantile having bought new boots for Ronald when the two came fluttering over frills and parasols flying after them.

"We have just heard the awful news," Abigail began.

"What awful news," Sam asked dryly, a hand on her hip.

"Poor Adams affliction, how dreadful."

Sam straightened up, she was actually speechless.

Abigail went on. "Still. good job you took in those two little urchins when you did. At least you will have children, I always think a house is never quite the same without children."

"Oh yes," Marsha nodded agreement, "We thought that was just an act of charity we had no idea you couldn't have children of your own. We're so sorry for you really must come to our sewing circle. I'm sure the rest of the ladies there would like to commiserate with you too."

"Our affairs are absolutely none of your concern and I would rather be gauged by Bill Tarmey's prize bull than be seen at your sewing circle." Sam stormed off then, blushing red with annoyance.

The women let out little gasps of dismay.

"Well I never," Marsha said, putting a hand to her chest.

"We've done our utmost to befriend that, that ranch hand and where has it gotten us," Abigail sniffed.

~o~

Sam was dismayed, she was incensed. How could this happen. What would Adam say?.

She bit her lip as she stood thinking. Suddenly she knew exactly who was responsible.

Annie came out to greet her friend as she pulled up in the buggy.

"Sam come in, I've just made a pot of coffee," She smiled.

"I'm not staying," Sam snapped.

Annie frowned anxiously at Sam's tone.

"How could you Annie, how could you," Sam was crying now.

"I trusted you and you told everyone," Sam ranted.

"Sam, please, what are you talking about, I don't understand."

"You told the sewing circle about Adam, didn't you!"

"Sam, I never," Annie shook her head. "Told them what?"

"Don't interrupt," Sam told her. "Of all the people I thought I could trust. How could you Annie, how could you."

Annie went to hug her as Sam was near hysterical.

"Take your hands off me, I don't know who you are any more, lording it over me, showing off your baby and now this. You keep away from me Annie," Sam wiped tears from her eyes and got up on to the buggy. She sped off then leaving Annie to worry at her speed.

~o~

Adam wasn't having such a good day either. Dexter, a particularly lazy ranch hand wanted to knock off early again and he was trying to convince the rest of the work force to push for it as well.

"You work to six or you don't get paid," Joe told him.

"This lumber has to be ready by Friday."

"Aw come on Joe, it'll be ready. We'll work twice as hard tomorrow if we have a good night tonight."

"The answer is no," Adam rode up on his horse.

"You got a hearing problem Dexter?"

"Least that's the only problem I got," Dexter mumbled, making the men around him chuckle.

"What's that supposed to mean," Adam asked, getting down from his horse.

"Six, six youngins at last count. I'm a real man. I ain't got no injury holding up my offspring." He grinned turning towards his friends.

For a moment Adam just looked at him.

Then he smacked him hard and Dexter hit the dirt sending clouds of dust upwards. He got to his feet and lunged for Adam. The men formed a circle taking bets as the two rolled in the dirt punching the head off each other. Joe moved forward trying to break it up but the men ignored him until Hoss barged in pulling Adam to his feet and restraining him as Joe held Dexter.

~o~

Joe told the rest of the men to get back to work as Hoss brought Adam to a quiet corner.

"What the hell are you doin Adam, this ain't like you," he scowled.

"That Dexter has a smart mouth," Adam told him as he wiped blood from his bottom lip.

"Yeah we all know that, it ain't news. But look at your face Adam. It ain't like you ta solve somethin with your fists."

"Just leave it Hoss, will ye." Adam moved off slowly towards his horse.

~o~

Sam gave Janet and Ronald and early supper and put them to bed. She planned to talk to Adam about what had happened. It's best he hear it from her and not someone else. She wrung her hands together and checked the window dozens of times. Finally she heard his horse in the yard. He came in soon after looking bruised and tired but also very angry.

"Adam, what happened?" she asked touching the red streak on the side of his face.

He took her hand down from his face.

"Who did you tell Sam?" he asked her coldly.

"Adam I..."

"Who did you tell?" he asked again, louder this time.

"Annie," she told him quietly.

"Annie, Joes wife."

"Annie, my friend," she said with anguish.

"How could you tell Annie, it's none of her business." He snapped.

"Well who do I talk to Adam, you tell me, because you don't talk, and you sure as hell don't listen" She told him.

"There's nothing to talk about. We'll have children in time, but you're obsessed about it."

"I'm obsessed, how dare you. For months you've led me to believe that you wanted the same things."

"I do but you want it right this minute. There's nothing wrong with us, it just takes time." Adam told her.

"What is it really Adam, what is the real reason for your fear. Do you believe I will end with the same fate as your mother?"

"Madam you go too far." Adam told her fiercely. "This is not about me. Half the residents of Virginia city think I'm incapable of fathering a child and who spread this vicious rumour, my darling wife. If you think me so inadequate why don't you go have your child with another man."

Sam stared at him in shock for a moment.

"Get out, get out. I don't want you near me." She hissed "You disgust me. I can't believe I ever loved you,"

Sam cried bitterly as he filled a duffle bag and headed out.

He didn't even look at her as he crossed to the door. She wanted to fix his bruised face, she wanted to fix him dinner. It was still keeping warm in the oven but he was gone.

She quickly dried her tears as two little figures in night gowns appeared on the stairs.

"We were just talking and Adam had to leave to do more work, did we wake you?" she tried to sound cheerful as she quickly dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. Ronald climbed up on to her lap and Janet went to hug her.

"He'll be back," she said "He'll surely come back when he gets hungry."

Sam hugged the little girl close. "You're probably right Jan." She said, trying to smile.

.