After Charlie had vanished in the house of the Martins, Adam went slowly back to the dance hall. He did not feel like dancing anymore but wanted to tell his family that he would ride home. Entering the building Joe was the first who ran into him.
"Have you seen Charlie?" "Yes, she wanted to leave and I escorted her home."
"I knew it!" Joe's temper seemed to get the better of him. "Why can't you stay out of my life at least for once? I was her escort tonight, who do you think you are to steal my girl away!"
Adam had obviously to fight quite hard to control his temper when he hissed back with an icy voice: "And who do you think you are to use that tone in public to me? If you want to have a talk, come with me outside!"
Already on the way out Joe had blown off most of his steam and began to feel sorry for yelling before thinking. "Sorry Adam, I have probably overreacted."
"You bet you have!" "I am sorry brother, I really am."
"Then why? What is it I have done to you again?" "I...I don't know...well, I was so proud when Charlie agreed to come to this dance with me, I even had to promise not to propose to her again until today..."
"What? You already asked her to marry you? Are you out of your mind?"
"You see? Joes voice rose again: "Everything I do you believe to be wrong or silly or rashly or even worse! But what could be more reasonable then to marry a girl like Charlie - she's smart and beautiful and kind and not a bit giggly! She's just perfect!"
Adam starred at his youngest brother in total disbelief, as if he had a kind of epiphany; the kid was absolutely right: She was just perfect, whereby of course not for Joe. What could be more reasonable than marrying her? While he was still considering whether he should court her or not, Joe had hit the bull's eye. He owed him one!
"Hey, are you still listening to me?" "Yes sure. I told you, I took her home because she wanted to leave and you were dancing with Maryann Watkins, which is by the way rather strange when you are going to marry Charlotte."
"Well yes, you see, I don't think we will, be married I mean." Well, this was fast, even for Joe.
"Not? So she did not accept you?" "No, whereby I would have cared not much about that of course, I would have asked her until she'd agreed, but..."
"But?" "You see, well I think ... maybe she is ... actually a bit too old and serious for me."
"Oh! And did you conceive of that alone?" "Errrrrr... yes, but ... well Charlie indicated something like that already."
"Oh, did she?" Apparently she was really perfect! "Then why ever are we arguing here?" "It is just not fair!"
Adam had to take a deep breath and literally felt his patience running out. "What exactly Joe, what is not fair?" "You just show up and run off with the girl I wooed for coming here. Why is it always so easy for you?"
Another deep breath, then Adam was able to answer: "Firstly: you said yourself you wooed the wrong girl, secondly what exactly was easy for me during the last year when it comes to women?" "Oh...errrr...I did not think of that, sorry Adam." Joe was honestly embarrassed.
"And finally: I do insist that a person cannot just be 'taken away' and I do not deserve your mistrust. Is it still that wretched Banning girl sitting on your stomach, is it that? Don't you still have the slightest confidence in me, but rather suspect I would take away from you any girl, which comes to my mind? Given the frequency you are falling in love for ever I had no time left for some sleep or even an occasional meal! Honestly little brother do you really think, that a girl, who is seriously interested in you and is worth your attention would suddenly change her mind and ran away with me of all people?"
Joe tried to say something serious and to control the corners of his mouth but failed. "Well I have to agree there elder brother, if she was really interested in me she had far too much taste even to look at you." Both brothers busted out in laughter. "Are we at peace Little Joe?" "Aren't we always?" "Well, not exactly, but always when it matters." Adam blinked at his brother.
Charlie was not able to sleep after having gone to bed, although she was incredibly tired. What had she done? Keeping the perspective it was basically not much: She had done a few dances with a couple of men on an official towns social not more, not less, basically nothing to be worried about, if there was not ...
But it was there, that thread she had been living with for so many years now, and to make things worse she was pretty close to roping in others. If she was really honest to herself, it were not just the others that made her wrack her brain about, it was him. She had never expected such a thing to happen, but there was no purpose in denying - she finally had fallen for a man.
How on earth could it have come to this? She had met some handsome and smart guys before, but none of them had had that special effect on her. None of them had shown genuine interest in her profession or made her laughing with just a little remark and none of them made her interior burning when he just touched her hand. In his company she had more and more difficulties to stay attentive, he made her feel safe and protected.
Again and again she reminded herself that this could only be a deception; there was no safe place for her, anywhere. The wisest thing was of course to leave town this very instant, but this was the exact opposite of everything she longed for. What she actually wanted was to stay, to learn more of him, to laugh, to talk and also to argue with him, let him protect her and all the other things she had heard of ... but anyway it was impossible. That thought made her feel more desperate than ever before in her life and she cried her eyes off until she was able to sleep.
A while later Ben and Adam were riding home, while Hoss and Joe wanted to stay at the dance and to spend the night at the hotel. They had rode for some time in silence, then Ben harrumphed and began: "Adam, I am glad we have the chance for a private talk tonight, there is something that bothers me." "Yes?"
"It is, well, you may find it somehow overbearing that I touch that subject, but I am honestly worried." "Overbearing? What gives you such a bizarre idea?"
"I am serious, son!" "Sure you are, come on, just fire ahead Pa."
"It is because of Charlotte Mathews, you seemed to be rather smitten by her." "Although I am not sure why I should discuss this with you Pa, yes, thanks to Little Joe I can confirm I am. Anything wrong with that?"
"What's Joe got to do with it?" "Believe it or not but tonight he made me realize that she - and this is a quote - is just perfect. Besides this she was shortly the current love of his life, but he declared himself he was over with that, so do not worry, we will not fight about her."
"Joe as well?" "I've told you, we have sorted that out and are fine. Joe suspects, she might be a bit too old for him. And what is it that makes her not suitable for me? I mean, this is why we are having this talk, aren't we?" Adams tune had become clearly sharper during the last sentences.
"No, this is not what I mean, you can calm down young man!" Ben had to swallow before he continued. "I do not think she was not suitable, quite the opposite way round: I like her very much and besides this she is a real beauty, I am not blind, you know. However I cannot get rid of the feeling that we do not know her sufficiently yet. Nothing about her background, her past, even Paul does not know anything about her except the professional things."
"If this is your only concern we can both calm down, as I am fully prepared that there is something in her past she wants to hide, but in the end, don't we all have one or the other secret? Give her some time, in the end I am sure she will trust in me."
"So you are going to court her?" "Courting is probably not the correct expression, but I will definitely go on seeing her to get to know her better."
"You are aware that people will talk about you? Your...well...dance tonight already attracted quite some attention." "Pa, we are the Cartwrights, you know perfectly well that people will and do talk inevitably about everything we do or don't. It really does not matter with whom or how we dance; it will become the talk of the town for sure. But don't tell me this was surprising for you, why are you bothered this time?"
At first Ben seemed to hesitate but then he burst out with perceptible pain: "I am worried that you might get hurt again son! It's been not too long ago, when you already had been disappointed gravely, I have no wish to see you devastated like that again or become the center of malicious comments."
Adam felt suddenly a wave of shame because of his previous anger. Of course, Pa was just concerned about him and he replied a lot warmer: "Please Pa, do not be afraid. You see the town gossip is really the last of my concerns. When it comes to the risk of being hurt again I am aware of that and ready to take it. I think she's worth it! What kind of coward would it make me not to try at least?" Where had he heard that lately? Ben sighed deeply: "Well, if you can take that risk, I think I can take it as well. But son, please remember that your family will be there for you in case you need someone or something."
"I know Pa, do not worry, at least about that I am always certain!"
