More replies were arriving in Virginia City, answering the inquiries which had been sent out to get track of Charlies husband, or - how he was named in a kind of unsaid agreement - 'that guy'. The lawyer in New Orleans sent some information about Henry Mathews, Charlies Grandfather. Apparently he was still living at Aspenvale Manor, but both the house, as well as the plantation seemed to be in a rather bad condition. After the end of the war the slaves had been freed and nobody was working now on the fields. The old man however had refused to see Mr. Singleton very briskly and informed him through his lawyers:
"..that once Mr. Mathews might have known to his regret a Mr. Edwin Mathews but was not interested in that persons' further fate at all. Besides this he had no wish at all to see his Granddaughter Mrs. Edwin Mathews, who will assumedly be by now just that ungrateful and cheating as that conniving Edwin Mathews always had been. Mr. Henry Mathews does not wish to be pestered with the affairs of these people ever again. Yours faithfully ... and so on ... Mewberry, Singleton and Tattersley."
Ben had read the last passages loud at the Sunday lunch table at the Ponderosa, to which Charlie now was invited as a matter of habit. Ben had read the content of Mr. Singletons letter to the others and it became quiet around the table. Joe was the first to break the silence:
"What a scumbag!"
"Watch your mouth Joseph!"
Hoss pleaded: "He is just right Pa!"
Adam took Charlies hand to comfort her, but she shook her head and said:
"I told you, he had never liked me."
"Well even if he doesn't and even he is an old and embittered man now, doesn't this sound somehow odd to you?" Adam looked around inquiringly.
"Well I remember him to dislike me and my parents for their 'weakness' how he called it but now he seems to dislike all other people too, do you mean that?"
"To some extent, yes. Did he tell you anything about that guy, when you were introduced, do you remember any details by chance?"
"Unfortunately I have not been able to forget this yet: He told me that this was a fine, honorable member of our noble family who had kindly deigned to accept my hand for a marriage, which was a great honor, as the offspring of such a doubtful person like my mother could count herself lucky to be taken by such a fine gentleman, which I had not deserved at all."
"He told you such things on your sixteenth birthday?" Ben was still stunned. He would have given a limp of his body to have grandchildren and those who were lucky enough to have some, did not know better than to despise and sent them away - well not all of them of course! He signed inwardly and continued hearable:
"And do you think your Grandfather meant what he said about him?"
"Hhmm, I am not sure, I did not know him very well, but he was awfully proud on our noble family, so if the guy was an offspring of undoubtable Mathews-parents or from comparable families I suppose he would have honestly appreciated him."
Adam continued: "Do you see what I mean? In this letter it seems there is more contempt for him than for you. He just assumes that you are like him. So the base line for his dislike is the guy, not you."
Ben read the final passage again and said thoughtful: "Yes, Adam is right, he regrets having known the guy and has apparently revised his verdict about him but he is not saying anything like that about Charlie!"
"So what's the big deal? He realized what he should have known earlier: That the guy has been a bastard just from the beginning, think of what he has done to Charlie!"
Adam thoughtful shook his head: "No Little Joe, if Charlies Grandfather was that stone-hearted, he would probably not given much for whether Charlie was beaten or not. I think it must have been something else that changed his mind and we should find out what."
That's true," Charlie conceded, "whether Grandfather admits, that a 'fine, honorable member of our noble family' had 'always' been 'conniving', that guy must have committed a greater sin."
"So it seems we have to fill in the Pinks right tomorrow morning with some new information respectively tasks." Adam summarized. "They have to trace the money in Philadelphia to find the unknown donor, and they shall dig deeper into the past of that guy, there is surely a lot of dirt to be found!" Notional he listed up a third issue for the Pinks to investigate.
After lunch Adam and Charlie went out for a ride, which had also become almost a routine. Today however, something seemed to be different. Adam tried several times to initiate a talk about 'Wuthering Heights', which he had lent from Charlie, but she did not really reply to even one of his - as usually - provoking opening questions, so he gave up and asked:
"You are rather quiet today my treasure, what's wrong?"
Charlie shook her head: "No, it's nothing serious; I mean I knew what he is, I should have expected something like that and it's silly and useless to muse about it. What did you say again about Mr. Earnshaw?"
"Let us leave that aside, the Earnshaws will not run away. You are speaking about your Grandfather and his, let me put it cautiously - unkind - words about you?"
"You've noticed?"
"How could I not! No one would simply digest such cruelty."
She nodded tentatively and Adam continued:
"You know that this is only about him, do you? Nothing in his behavior is caused by you, are you listening to me?"
He had dismounted his horse and pulled Charlie down from hers, taking her his arms. That caring gesture made Charlies feelings overwhelm her and her tears began to flow.
"Please darling, do not cry because of that apparently ill-natured old man, we should rather feel sorry for him. He will never know what a wonderful Granddaughter he could have loved!"
"Wonderful, my foot! Your heard him; I am ungrateful and cheating and surely he considers me to be weak and doubtful like my parents were! I mean he doesn't even know me a bit, why does he hate me so much?"
"Do not allow that evil old man to tear you down. You are one of the strongest and bravest persons I've ever met! I do admire so much how you made it to remain the warm-hearted, lovable woman you are after all the things you've been through and how you stuck to your dream to become a Doctor besides this!"
"This was not very admirable, there were times when I had nothing but this dream making me to go on, it was just my escape, not a matter of bravery."
"At least it is much more than I can claim for myself, I am still working on my fathers dream!"
Charlie stopped crying and wiped away her last tears, then she looked inquiring at Adam:
"You mentioned something like that already a couple of times, I have to confess I didn't really understand what you were actually up to, but I did not dare to ask. Maybe it's a little different now and I'll risk it: What do you mean with that, are you unhappy here at the Ponderosa?"
"Not unhappy no, much less now, that you came along, but I cannot help thinking that there must be more for me in life."
"More of what? Work? Women? Money?"
"More women - that's it! Thank so much you for the advice Doctor Mathews!"
"My pleasure! Anything else?"
"Luckily I have not to think about money in the first instance when it comes to my occupation, I am doing not too bad. Surely I do not need more work, what I long for is some different kind of work. I am really missing constructing and designing something, that is why I ….. by the way let us go on riding, I want to show you something!"
And while they made their way, Adam continued unburdening his heart:
"When I returned after college to the Ponderosa I thought it would be just for a short time after Pa was able to manage things without me, but year after year I stayed. Now he would surely get along without me, but I fear now it is too late for me to make a new start as an architect or engineer. Things have moved on, but I did not."
"Maybe you can catch up a bit?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, this is just some loud thinking, but if the Ponderosa can get along a while without you and money is not the most crucial issue, why don't you look for a kind of training internship in an architects or engineers office in Sacramento or San Francisco or somewhere else for - let's say - a couple of months. Choose a time of the year, where there is not too much to do on the ranch and besides this you can make new contacts for the Ponderosa while you are in a city. So there would nothing be lost here and maybe won quite a deal on the other hand. By this you would learn at least how much of your experience had been lost during the last years and a decision whether to remain a rancher or to become an architect or an engineer is based on more than wishes and imaginations. However I can actually not see why you shouldn't be able to do both: Why not establishing a little construction office in Virginia City? The town is rapidly growing; you could do some designing or constructing from time to time. Besides this I think there are possibilities for you to find another occupation here in Virginia City - did you ever consider entering politics? People here usually listen to you and are aware that you do care very much for the development of the town, think of your library project! Joe told me you are already a city counsel. If you are interested in organizing and facilitating things in a political sense, why not running for becoming mayor of Virginia City one day? You would not have to leave your family for good, which is the main issue keeping you here, isn't it?"
Adam remained silent for a while and Charlie became unsure whether she had been too invasive "What is it, did I say anything wrong?"
He shook his head: "No, quite the contrary, everything you say makes so much sense that I am shocked I haven t thought of it myself, as long as I am quarreling with it."
"You know that you are blaming yourself wrongly, don't you? It is a question of the perspective. You had been sticking in the middle of the quarrels, one cannot see clearly from such a position, it easier for an outsider like me to see alternative options."
"What you said seems to be so reasonable and smart, I just have very much to try not to be too enthusiastic about it and I need to think it over. When I will have become clear about it, I will talk about it with Pa and you, agreed?"
"Of course, take all the time you need! Speaking of time, what did you wanted to show me, I still wanted to make a short visit at the Halsteads place. Mrs. Halstead seemed so much more cheerful during the last week, I must continue seeing her regularely."
"No problem my dear, do not worry, we are nearly there."
A short while later they arrived at the clearing where the shell of Adams unfinished house was still standing. They dismounted and Adam took something from his saddlebags.
"I have decided to finish it for you and me to live in, if you can take it that the place was originally planned to be made for someone else and me."
"Oh thank you Adam!" Charlie felt her eyes getting wet again, "of course I can, I fell in love with this spot at first sight, and you told me once you would not care for my past, why should I care for yours? No, this shall become the loveliest place on earth for us! But didn't we decide to come back to marriage issues later, when we will be rid of that guy?"
"I didn't say a single word about marrying; I just want to live here with you!"
"Oh yes of course, I see, in that case I am fine with it and will listen!"
"That's the spirit; I always thought I had discovered a slightly indecent streak in you!"
Adam unfolded a blanket on which they sat down and studied his plans for the house. Charlie insisted on two studies:
"I want to have a room for my work here as well, maybe not a fully equipped practice but a room in which I can do some paperwork and one or the other easy treatment if it would be closer for a patient to come here than to Virginia City."
"Then let us rather schedule space for a real practice, a waiting room and a treatment area right from the beginning, maybe you want to expand the practice one day. At least you will have to provide for me, when I am doing my poorly paid internship!"
Adam looked provoking at Charlie, but she went on inspecting the plans and continued:
"This is a brilliant idea, maybe I can install here one day a branch of our Virginia City practice."
"I was joking, you know?"
"What? No, now you have watered my mouth and I will insist on a real practice, you can add the rooms here, look! At the Northern front, beside the kitchen it would not spoil the wonderful view to the lake and the mountains, I will insist on that myself now! We could make a junction of the water supply for the kitchen just into the practice!"
"I'm speaking about providing for me, silly!"
"Oh ... oh I see, but why was that a joke? Of course I will provide for you if it should become necessary one day by whatsoever reason, what do you think of me?"
Adam was not sure what exactly he felt at this moment. As long as he could remember people had wanted something from him - something to do, something to think about or to leave something. This was nothing he had to complain about - he liked to be in charge or to be needed. And now there was someone in his life, who had not only never asked the slightest thing from him so far. Moreover she had just declared, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, that she would take care and provide for him. Unable to speak because of a giant lump in his throat he twisted one of her curls, which were loosely hanging down around his finger. Then he took a deep breath and answered:
"That I do not deserve you!"
He put the hand he held the curl in to her cheek and drew her face slowly nearer until he could kiss her. After a while he broke the kiss and whispered:
"We should go now."
"Why now?"
"Believe me, we should go!"
"Could it be that I have discovered a slightly prudish streak in you?"
"For heavens sake woman, you really should let the sleeping dogs lie!"
After a short visit at the Halstrads, where everything seemed to be alright at the moment, they made their way back to the Ponderosa. Adam went on inquiring about Charlies past:
"Can you tell me a bit about your Aunt Freddie? She must have been quite a woman; I would have liked very much to meet her."
"Oh I think the pleasure would have been all hers. I am sure that she would have liked you very much!"
"Really, that's flattering to hear. What makes you so sure?"
"Well I'll rather don't tell you, you might become vain!"
"Oh, now I m definitely curious, I'll investigate that matter later, but I suppose there must have been other things about her which you can tell me?"
"She was simply wonderful: loving, humorous and open minded about everything that might lead to an improvement on the estate or for the stud farm or for anyone working for her. She taught me always to think: 'What does it take to make things happen and what can I contribute?'
I owe her so very much. Growing up with that role model convinced me that women can be just that strong and smart and successful like men if they are free to do what they want! If she hadn't taken me into her house and to her heart ... well I don't dare thinking about that. Of course she spoiled me thoroughly; I didn't need to learn anything I was not interested in, except of course it was necessary for college. She was absolutely strict in that regard, but I was for example not forced to sew or to cook. She spared me to take part in those socials for girls down South, which I felt to be something like a livestock auction with the girls being the livestock."
"You've never wanted to go to one of those famous balls?"
"That sounds odd, doesn't it? But no, I really had no desire for such events. Maybe I was too young at that time, but besides this Aunt Freddie and her whole household were a kind of outsiders among the neighbors: A women, breeding horses of her own and running an estate without any slaves was something very, very queer during those days in the Old South. So I've never had friends of my own age and felt no need at all to chatter with other girls about new dresses or hats. I was just not interested in such kind of stuff and preferred to accompany Doc Simmons when he made his visits and to cut open abscesses. Believe me, I know how bizarre that must sound! Now I think sometimes, I should have been forced at least to learn how to cook. You know, I am a complete failure when it comes to household matters."
"This is good to know; now I am prepared for the worst!" Adam smiled and continued "I understood you've never met your Aunts husband?"
"No, he had died shortly before I came to Aunt Freddie, once she said I had saved her life because she would have died of grief without me, maybe that's why she was so good to me. His name was Patrick O'Flaherty."
"He was a brewer you said?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know where he worked?"
"No, sorry I have no distinct memory in that, I think they had tried to establish a brewery of their own, but what has he or his occupation to do with all that?"
"I'm just curious, I think I have heard once about an 'Equinox brewery', do you know anything about that or have you ever heard your Aunt mentioning it?"
"No, I haven't, but will you please tell me why you are asking? You do hardly a thing out of pure curiosity, do not take me dumb!"
Adam smiled "You are right again my dear, but it is a rather half-baked idea, I am brooding about, and therefore I would prefer to tell you about it later."
"You know that you don't have to protect me? I'm a grown up person, I can stand a disappointment."
"Of course I know that, and this has nothing to do with protecting you, as much as I would like to do that every minute of every day for the rest of our lives! You do not have to fear for your autonomy, not from me, never, this is a promise!"
Charlie felt her eyes watering again and therefore hastily changed the subject:
"Shouldn't we hurry? I am am getting hungry again, it will soon be time for dinner! You see - I am already afraid of upsetting Hop Sing and your father as well."
"That is very wise of you my dear!"
The next day Ben and Adam were in Virginia City to wire the new instructions to the Pinkerton Agents. Ben summarized:
"We have asked for the unknown donor in Philadelphia as well as to investigate the past of that guy more intensively. Anything else?"
"Yes, actually I want them to investigate everything about a Patrick O'Flaherty and an Equinox brewery near Savannah or in Chatham County."
"Who is that supposed to be and what has a brewery to do with it all?"
"Mr. O'Flaherty was Aunt Freddies late husband, who was a brewer. I cannot get rid of the feeling that there is more about him and that 'Equinox' than we have realized so far."
