Idle hands ~ Chapter 5

It was a couple of days later before Adam and Sam bumped into each other at the Post office. Ronald ran up to Adam and held up his lolly pop. Adam took it from him removing the brown paper covering and handing it back to him. Ronald smiled up at him, his face instantly sticky as he started in on the messy treat.

"Ronnie, I told you, that's for after dinner," Sam told him, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Adam.

He looked terrible, his hair was tossed and he'd obviously cut himself shaving. He didn't look as though there was much sleep to be had either.

"Janet, take Ronald across to the Mercantile," she told the little girl. "I'll join you there in a minute."

Janet took Ronald's hand.

"Hi Adam," she said, rather sadly as she passed him.

Adam smiled and patted her head.

"Mind how you cross," he told her.

~o~

Adam reached into his pocket and produced a wad of notes.

"Here, this should tide you over for a while," he said.

"We don't want your money." Sam told him.

"It's not my money, it's our money."

"Oh so there is still an 'OUR' is there," she said rather bitterly.

"Just take the money Sam," he said stuffing the notes into her little bag.

"You're double locking the door at night, right?" he asked.

"No I'm having half the Paiute nation in for breakfast, what do you think."

Adam was silent then.

"Where's your bandana Adam," Sam asked suddenly.

"Oh I forgot to put it on this morning," he told her, putting a hand to his bare neck.

"You'll get a throat infection now is the next thing that will happen." She told him.

"I'll put it on when I get back."

She moved closer putting a hand to his jacket.

"Just tell me where you're staying," she asked.

"I'm up in one of the line shacks."

"You won't stay with your Father." She asked looking up into his eyes.

"I don't need anyone else knowing our business."

"You could come home, stay in the spare room if you want. It's warm." Sam tried to sound casual.

Adam took her hand in his "We need space," he told her "I don't want to spend the next few weeks rowing about this, do you?"

"Well when you've decided I've been punished enough I'll be right here " She said pulling her hand free.

With tears brimming in her eyes, she turned and fled.

~o~

Adam watched her go, his face darkening. He wasn't trying to punish her. He didn't want to deal with the anger he felt. They had talked about that between them. It was private. His brothers didn't even know. He had come off that damn horse when he was about twelve and the doctors broached the possibility that it might damage his chances of having children in the future.

Sam was the only one he ever told that to and now half of Virginia city knew about it.

~o~

Vernon marvelled at the enormous bowl of stew in front of him. The waiter pored champagne for them both.

"Cheers," Angela smiled, clinking glasses with him.

"What did I tell you, I knew Father couldn't banish us forever." She smiled.

"Another 2 months and we shall be back on the estate playing billiards with our friends and going to proper socials. Ugh I will not miss this rough town Angela. I am quite sure there was someone killed in that saloon on Monday."

"Oh don't be so dramatic, instead tell me brother what do you think of my handy work, they are no more."

"Who are no more?" He asked, stew juice running from his chin.

"Oh wipe your face Vern," she grimaced. "Adam and Samantha Cartwright. They've split up. And all because of my intervention."

"Oh that, I got sick of that long ago." He told her.

"Liar," she grinned "none of your schemes worked, admit it".

"No, on this occasion I will have to bow to you dear sister. You're right, his brother didn't fall out with him as much as I'd hoped and that boy I paid was a dead loss."

"Why?" Angela asked, sipping her champagne.

"I told him to show young Janet a good time. He being the ruffian he is, I thought he would know to deflower her, instead he took her to a carnival and on a picnic."

Angela laughed, feeling a bit tipsy already.

"What an idiot," she grinned. "But Vern that was a tad naughty of you, I mean she's very young."

"She's the child of a jailbird dear sister."

She nodded, swishing champagne around in her glass.

"Anyway when I explained what I really wanted from him he told me to get lost. I ought to have him beaten up for that."

"You should," Angela nodded.

"And anyway it doesn't really matter because she's not his daughter anyway. If she were to find herself with child he'd probably just turf her out."

He took up his glass "So I bow to you dear sister, you win the match. Well played," he smiled demurely.

"In fairness, I had the advantage. You wouldn't have been allowed in the sewing circle brother. It's strictly ladies only."

"You don't sew, do you?" Her brother asked, mopping up his gravy with a piece of bread.

"Neither do they, it's a chance to gossip. I've practically become a life member with the dirt I had for them."

"You are a wonder dear sister,"

"It's not over yet, what's say we go one more round before heading home next month."

'"What do you have in mind."

"I concede there is one more weak link in the Cartwright chain," she smiled as she watched Hoss Cartwright talking to the manager at the front desk.

"The bigger they are the harder they fall," she said almost to herself.