At the end of the round-up, when the cattle were successfully sold and the hands were paid, the usual party was due. Adam wanted to leave the vicinity of the party after the first beer, but Hoss had blocked the door, shook his head meaningful and shoved him back into the middle of the saloon. Joe jumped on a table and announced:

"No, no, no! Not so fast brother dearest! Maybe you can abstain from the joys of a good old-fashioned booze, but the rest of us cannot. As long as you do not officially belong to your new lady and master, you are part of the Cartwright-bachelor-society, who has decided to celebrate a hell of a party here tonight in compliment as well as on the costs of the broom-to-be!"

Everybody in the saloon burst out applauding and hooting. Adam looked around seeking for help, but when he saw his father in the crowd, smiling at him with a shrug, he realized that there was no escape. The party became that boisterous and noisy and hilarious as Hoss and Joe could ever have hoped for. Someone even conjured a guitar and Adam had to play and sing the better part of his repertoire, supported by a lot of more or less educated voices.

In a comparatively silent moment Ben whispered in Adams ear:

"Leave the payment to me; let it be my wedding present!"

When Adam finally decided to leave, many hours later than he had intended, a couple of cowboys were still giving him cheers, but most of the guests had already left. Before he finally fell asleep he reminded himself to thank his brothers at the next opportunity for the surprisingly enjoyable evening.

XXXXXXXXXX

The day before the wedding had arrived. Adam had already moved to the new house, where a parlor, the kitchen, bathing facilities, the outhouse as well as the big and a small bedroom had been finished. Everything else could be done later. Charlotte however would spend the night before the wedding at the Ponderosa.

Starting from very early next morning a seemingly countless number of Hop Sings cousins bustled around the yard and the kitchen of the Ponderosa, prompted by Hop Sing, who steadily yelled commands in Chinese.

A first serious crisis was reached when Hop Sing had to shoo Hoss away from the kitchen:

"No eggs, no pancakes today, Mista Hoss go away, eat sandwiches on table!"

"I just finished the sandwiches Hop Sing, now I need something more substantial. Just a few eggs, please!"

"No! Sandwiches was for evelybody, for whole moning! You ate evelything! Hop Sing can't wolk like this, wedding will be desastel, can't face shame, will go back to China!",

the little cook was to be heard lamenting. When additionally Joe approached, also looking for something to eat, the uproar became that noisy, that only Bens stentorian voice was able to cut through the quarrel:

"What do you think you are doing here? This is supposed to be a joyful day for all of us, but you seem to reenact the Battle of Yorktown here!"

"Pa, we have nothing to eat!"

"Yes, how shall we feel any joy with empty stomachs?"

"Boys disturbing preparations, wedding without cake bad omen! Need to go back to China!"

"Stop that at once! Hop Sing, give them some bread and bacon and then you go on with your work! And you two take the bread, the bacon and look for some eggs in the henhouse. Take that stuff, your suits and move over to your brothers' place. He has also some supplies, so you should have enough food to endure it until the wedding meal. Take care that Adam will be here in time!"

After that crisis was solved, Ben knocked at Charlies door:

"I just wanted to tell you, that the war downstairs is over. Joe and Hoss are gone to bring Adam here in time. Everything fine at yours?"

Charlie smiled: "Do you still think it was a good idea to have a big celebration?"

"I've never had a better one!"

"Thank you for that! No, I am fine, I just wished that Paul and most of all Jillian would come. Paul is not that urgent, I only need him when it really gets serious to give me away, but without Jillian I will hardly manage my dress and much less my hair."

"Are they already late?"

"No, there is still half an hour left, no need to worry - yet!"

In the yard of the ranch house countless helpers had placed a lot of chairs for the guests as well as a little altar with a pergola, garlanded with red and white roses. Ben, who had changed into his best suit, saw delighted, that the place looked that festive as he had hoped for. The first carriages with guests arrived, among them Jillian Martin, who rushed at once to Charlies room, where they began to tame Charlies hair into the bun with curls, that had worked fine already on the occasion of the anniversary celebrations. Then Jillian helped Charlie into dress and veil, which was done easier than they expected. Now Jillian inspected the bride in her special dress and could not help having her eyes watered.

"Oh my dear! To see you like this, it is...sorry darling, I am becoming sentimental it seems."

"It's quite the moment for sentiments, don't you think?" and the women hugged each other. Then Jillian chuckled:

"Do you remember our first visit here? What you said about Adam on the way home?"

"Oh my! Yes, I think 'snooty' and 'self-absorbed' were among the more kindly terms, and I meant every word of it! Oh my Jillian, sometimes I still can't believe, how much my life has changed since I have arrived here."

"Yes and on top of all you were dusty, bleeding and unconscious!"

"Oh yes, the coach accident..."

Before Charlie could dig deeper into her reminisces, it knocked at the door. Ben came into the room, looking a bit concerned.

"Anything wrong Ben?"

"Well...yes! The time has come, nearly everybody in the Territory is waiting downstairs, including the reverend and the groom, but Paul has not arrived yet."

"My gosh!" Jillian said startled, "He had been called to the Dearings this morning, Helen Dearing is probably still in labor, so that he could not leave, what shall we do?"

"I can manage the aisle on my own; it is just a pity that Paul cannot be with us."

Ben cleared his throat: "I am sure you can manage everything you want, but would you allow me to give you away?"

"Of course, I would be very much honored Ben, thank you so much!"

So Jillian went down to take her place and to give the musicians the hint to start playing. Before they finally went off, Ben held Charlie back. Unusually shy he asked:

"Would you ... I mean I have here something ... " and he took a little box from his pocket: "This is something that belonged to Adams mother. It was in his grandfathers legacy and I kept it ... for a day like this!"

Charlie opened the box and found two single, fairly big pearls, shimmering in a warm shade of ivory.

"They are not perfectly circular, I know, but Adams Grandfather probably brought them along from a cruise and..."

"Ben, they are gorgeous! I don't know what to say, this is so thoughtful of you! Thank you, thank you so much!" and Charlie hugged him fiercely before she put on the stud earrings.

Ben cleared his throat again: "Now, let us rather go down, before Adam suspects I would talk you into running away!"

When they entered the yard, all eyes were directed on them. Charlie could identify a couple of beaming faces, among them many of her friends from the women's association, who were especially proud on their contribution to the dress. Then she caught the eye of the groom and was flooded the very same moment by a wave of relief - in her originally intended dress she would probably have looked like Cinderella's poorer sister beside the prince. He waited for her between his brothers, wearing a silvery grey three piece suit, which perfectly matched his dark appearance.

Arrived at the altar, Adam took one of her hands, drew her into a hug and kissed her without any hesitation. Muffled laughter and coughs were to be heard from everywhere. They parted only when Ben nudged him from behind and hissed:

"Adam! Behave yourself! Not now!"

The rest of the ceremony went by rather uneventful, maybe except the fact that the obligation to obey her husband had been omitted from the brides vow. However at the end of the ceremony the minister felt it more appropriate to alter the usual formula to:

"You may kiss the bride now with reason!"

Joe began to cackle upon that and the rest of the guests chimed in laughing and applauding. This seemed to be a kind of 'go ahead' for the end of each and any formality: Everybody jumped up to hug the couple or at least one of them. Originally there was intended to have a long table arranged in the yard for the wedding meal, but now Hop Sing and his cousins put some smaller tables just randomly into the yard and everybody was invited to place his or her chair to where he or she wanted to sit while eating. Hop Sing and the cousins had prepared countless dishes that were presented on a large buffet table, among them a five-story wedding cake.

The casual arrangement - without any seating order - lead to the most amazing combinations among the guests: Little Joe found himself sitting beside Dolly Graham, who started very determined to comment on the advantages or disadvantages of nearly every marriageable girl in the Territory. At first he felt quite irritated about that, but after a while he listened amused to the old maids' stories and decided to have a more accurate look at one or the other girl, Miss Graham had mentioned.

Maryann Watkins, who had very much counted to be accompanied by Little Joe, came to sit beside Hoss. Joe's literally 'big' brother had always been a bit intimidating for her because of his size. Today however she found out to her surprise that Hoss Cartwright was the very reverse of intimidating or frightening, but rather shy and apparently incredibly sweet. Maryann even had the heart to ask him for a dance after the meal, which Hoss promised blushing and smiling. That would be fun! Dancing with a Cartwright who was probably able to keep his hand where they belonged! Although she liked Little Joe very much and had been very much flattered by his attendance, he had always been a little bit too much of a rascal for her taste!

Ben tried to keep an overview about all guests, going from table to table to see whether everybody was fine. Rather soon he heard a well known voice behind him:

"Ducky! What are you running around here all the time! Come, do sit down here!",

and Clementine Hawkins threw a chair into the hollow of his knees, so that he came down a little involuntarily but right beside Widow Hawkins.

"Now" she purred "there will be missing a person now in your house, surely it will feel rather empty and lonely, will it not Benjamin?"

"Well Clementine, I could do with a little loneliness after the last exiting weeks. Besides this Adam will be living not far away, we will see each other regularly and there are still Hoss and Little Joe!"

"Yes, those poor motherless boys! Now another person, who has taken care for them, is leaving. Do you think they will be able to stand that without any replacement?"

"Judging from how willingly they spent every free minute on the construction of Adams new house I daresay they will!"

"Oh, that was surely mere brotherly love, but when they realize how empty the house will be, they will probably be devastated and longing for …"

To his considerable relief Ben should never learn what his boys would be longing for, because everybodie's attention was drawn now on Hop Sing. Together with some of his cousins he carried the wedding cake into the middle of the tables and Adam and Charlie were called to do the first cut. On her way to that table Charlie whispered something in the ear of one on the cousins, who rushed away upon that. When she arrived at the cake Adam had already a knife in his hand and looked inquiring at her.

"I suppose you will not agree to have my hand on top?"

"Wait a second; I have a solution for that essential question!"

The very same moment Hop Sings cousin was back, bowed before Charlie and presented to her amidst the laughter of all guests a second knife. Adam blinked at Charlie and simultaneously they cut, each of them with an own knife, the first piece out of the cake.

A short while later, when the guests were saturated for the time being and tables and chairs were put aside, Adam and Charlie had to lead the dance. It was played a waltz. Just like at their first dance, Adam took down his left arm after a few turns, so that they were dancing in a kind of hug. Charlie smiled:

"Don't tell me it would be still your shoulder?"

"What a pity, you don't buy the shoulder-excuse any longer? Well then I need to confess that it just feels better to hold you like this Doctor Cartwright!"

"Oh yes, I am Charlotte Virginia Cartwright now. Do you like the sound of that?"

"You bet I do!" and they kissed again.

Other couples had joined them on the dance floor and after a while Adam asked:

"Do we have to stay any longer?"

Charlie asked a bit startled:

"Don't you like it here? Look, everybody seems so relaxed and in a good mood, shouldn't we enjoy that?"

"Yes, but I'd prefer to enjoy some other things, you know?"

Charlie chuckled: "I do understand, but that would be awfully unkind, don't you think? They seem to be so happy for us, we really have to stay for a while and honestly, I am looking forward to dance a little before I dedicate myself completely to you!"

"Complete dedication?"

"Hhhhmmmmmm!"

Adam sighed: "Apparently I am completely henpecked already now!"

"Sure you are! This is absolutely essential for a happy marriage!"

As Charlie had expected, the bridal couple had to dance with most of their wedding guests. To Charlies delight one of the first who asked her was Paul Martin, who had finally arrived after the third child of the Dearings was sleeping safe and sound in his mothers' arms.

"Apparently you managed it without me along the aisle?"

"Ben was kind enough to volunteer, yes. Although he was of course wonderful, I had preferred you could have given me away. After all I owe it you and your guts to hire a woman, that I am able to experience all this today. I would say something to thank you if there were any words, being strong enough to express the extent of my gratitude!"

"That's sweet of you to say my dear child, but there had been many, many incidents, that lead to this wonderful day. Become happy and if there will be children someday, let Jillian and me spoil them a little, like a kind of grandparents, that will be even more gratitude than we deserve!"

"That's promised Paul!" Charlie answered with a lump in her throat.

"By the way, we have something for you!" and Paul drew her away from the dance floor to his buggy and waived Jillian to attend them. He took a rather big, flat package from the loading space and handed it to Charlie.

"Oh, this is heavy!" When she had ripped off the paper, she looked at a bronze plate, stating 'Paul Martin M.D. and Charlotte Cartwright M.D.'

"Thank you! Thank you both! It looks as if it would be there until eternity!"

"That's quite the intended period when it comes to us!" Charlie hugged them both.

Hours later, when most of the guests had already left, Adam made another attempt. He approached Charlie, who was just dancing with his father and asked:

"Would you allow me to take my wife away from here, into our own house?"

"Well I do not dare to think what would happen if I wouldn't! Of course, go home you two! But I expect you for next Sunday lunch, this is indispensable, is that clear?"

Ben ordered so with a stern voice to hide his emotion, which failed completely. Charlie heartily hugged him a last time, before they went off to their own home.

Arrived there, Adam lifted Charlie from the buggy and carried her over the threshold. The following days, until next Sunday the newly-weds only needed to enjoy their togetherness.

The morning after the wedding Charlie found the bed beside her empty when she awoke. She put on her gown and went down, following some noise, she was not able to identify. In the kitchen she saw Adam, looking for something in the cupboards.

"Good morning Mr. Cartwright, I already feared you had run off already on our very first day! What are looking for? What could you need except me?"

Charlie asked, nestling up against him. After a long kiss Adam answered:

"Coffee! Darling, you really mean the world to me, but even you are no substitute for coffee!"

"This is of course quite disappointing, but true, let us look for it together!"

And both they went through the kitchen cabinets rather unenthusiastically. Charlie mumbeled:

"I can't believe that, married for not even 24 hours and I mess up with all my intentions not to make the kitchen my district - apparently you have a devastating effect on me!"

"Ah! But you seem to have a very constructive effect on me, here we have both: coffee and coffeepot!"

"Very well done! So let us make some coffee, pray that Hop Sing will find a housekeeper for us soon and then I would really like to see something of the house in daylight, yesterday evening I was somehow distracted."

After some coffee and a little bread and bacon, leftovers from the breakfast with Hoss and Joe, Adam took Charlie around, showing her the finished rooms and explaining the outline for the rooms still to be finished.

"And what is that over there?"

Charlie pointed to a corner of the parlor, where there was something big and apparently bulky hidden under some kind of sheets. Adam moved over to it and said:

"Just something I wanted you to have!"

When he drew away the sheets a grand piano became visible, shimmering in a wonderful shade of mahogany.

"Take it as a wedding present for both of us. I expect you to play a lot on it for entertaining me!"

"Thank you darling, thank you...I..."

Charlie speechless shook her head and could express her joy just by kissing her husband. When she was able to talk again, she asked:

"By the way, my things from Virginia City are they around here anywhere?"

"Yes, the trunks are in here, where we are going to have your practice room one day. I didn't want to carry everything upstairs, in case you want to keep parts of the stuff down here."

"Very good!" Charlie replied and started to look for something in her carpet bag. She returned to Adam with a sheet of paper.

"Unfortunately I was not able to place the order in advance, because there have to be made some exact measurements for that, but I discussed it already with the locksmith in Virginia City, he will make it for us."

When Adam enfolded the paper he saw the sketch of an iron archway, spanned by the words 'Paradise found'.

"The idea is to post this at the entrance of the yard. So our house had a name - only of course if you could agree to 'use' the title of your favorite book for playing on words for such an earthly matter."

Now Adam swallowed: "This will be simply perfect, the perfect match. Thank you, my dearest! So I may assume that you liked the house so far?"

"It is wonderful; the rooms are so bright and large, I like that very much! The fireplace here seems to be even bigger than that at the Ponderosa."

"But?" Adam inquired, "I think I heard a 'but'?"

"Yes, it's …. well a rather minor issue ... I mean ... there is so little in the rooms. I mean this perfectly underlines their generous proportions, but it is ... how shall I put it ... not very cozy, do you know what I mean?"

Adam looked amazed at her:

"Do you really think? I thought it would make cleaning easier for you that way."

"What?" Had she caught this correctly?

"Don't you agree my dear little housewife?"

Adam replied, looking at her with a strange look, who changed into a grin more and more until he burst out laughing:

"Now this has really scared you, hasn't it? My, you should have seen your face! Darling, put in the rooms whatever and how much you want, I just didn't wanted to buy any furniture without you and brought only my things here, my desk, my shelfs and books. Everything else is up to you! Now, could you please smile again my dear?"

"If you want me to leave you, just go on like this!"

"How shall I go on? Like this?" and he kissed her.

"Or like that?" and he lifted her on his arms and carried her back to the bedroom, where he put her on the bed tenderly

"Or how do you like that?"

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sunday morning came earlier than expected. When Adam and Charlie arrived in their buggy at the yard of the Ponderosa, Ben, Hoss and Joe all stormed out to greet them. Joe was the quickest. He was the first at Charlies side and lifted her from the cart.

"Hey Charlie, best sister in the world! Tell me, have you finally become sick of old Grumpy and are ready now to elope with the true love of your live?"

"Bull's eye Joe, I just came here to deliver him back. Trust you will have an eye on him while I'm on the run with my true love?"

"No way, I'm too glad to have become rid at least of one big brother, that one's not returnable, dumb him somewhere else!"

"Stop that nonsense and let me also have a look at our sister!" Hoss shove Joe away easily and hugged Charlie as gentle as he could.

"You do look fine sis, so elder brother treats you as good as he should do, right?"

"You do not have to worry Hoss, he still behaves quite agreeably and any complaints will be brought straight to your attention, promised!"

"He better should!"

"Now it's my turn, come here my girl; tell your father how it is to be a Cartwright!"

Charlie beamed at Ben:

"Oh Ben! I am afraid that the gods will become jealous!"

"So you are not regretting that you married that boy of mine so far?"

"Hey everybody, 'he' or 'that boy' can hear you, you know? This is because 'he' or 'that boy' is standing right beside the persons; he once had considered being his family! Does anyone here still remember me?"

"Oh yes, I already thought I've seen you before young man, no, no, do not tell me, I'll have it soon: Alan? Alfred? Alex? No, now I've got it: Archie it was!"

Adam threw the reigns of the buggy to Joe:

"For that insolence you'll take care for the team!"

"No, it's not Archie" Joe continued in a low tune "it's clearly dumb old Adam!"

Everybody laughed and Adam rolled his eyes.

"Could you please give me a short reminder Charlotte, why ever we came here? It was so irritating peaceful in our 'paradise'."

"Because of Hop Sings Sunday roast!"

"Well, at least that makes sense!"