Chapter Eight

The wind was starting to blow, as Fredrick and Mary walked through the yard talking about everything from Tabitha's accident to the fact that Fredrick was feeling more and more like there had to be a relation between himself and the Cartwrights, though until Tabitha was fully awake (she was drifting in and out consciousness) he didn't feel like cornering Adam or his father. After all, the poor men plus Laura Ann were scared to death for their daughter and granddaughter who had at least a broken arm from the accident. He would just bide his time until things had settled down before talking to the men.

"They say there's another brother." Hoss and Mary took cover in the barn as the wind started flowing a bit harder. They would have simply gone inside the house, but they wanted some time alone. He went on to tell him what the family had told him about Little Joe. "The man has a wife and four children, all of them are his by blood." Fredrick shook his head, "Doesn't sound like a man that should have the title 'little' in front of his name."

Due to a conversation she'd have with Adam's wife, Mary knew all about the man called Joseph Francis Cartwright and his family. "Yeah, one would think that. Still, he's the youngest and has had that title for years. It is hard to get rid of nicknames when they've been with a body that long, no?"

Fredrick couldn't argue with that one, especially since he'd had the impression for some time that he too had a nickname that had stuck to him for years; only question was, what was it? "Yeah, I guess yer right." He admitted as he started climbing up to the loft with Mary following him. The two of them had a habit of sitting in lofts discussing everything under the sun and sometimes simply losing themselves in each other. This time they made their way to the loft doors that were opened and sat in such a way as to make sure they would not fall out, yet still enjoying the scenery.

After a few moments, Mary then turned to face him and asked, "So, when are you going to ask the Cartwrights how you should know them?"

Fredrick's surprise shown on his face as his eyes widened and his mouth opened ever so slightly. When he snapped out of it, Fredrick replied, "How did you know?" He wasn't surprised when Mary rolled her eyes.

"I've known you for close to nine and a half years and married to you for five. Do you really think I would not notice the looks in your eyes as you looked upon this land? The tiniest of movement in them as you saw Mr. Cartwright or his son, Adam?" Mary shook her head in disbelief. "Answer my question. When are you gonna ask?"

Thinking on Tabitha lying in her bed, Fredrick told his wife what he'd already decided. "They have enough on their plate without me pressing them for answers." Mary did not agree, thinking that it would be something the Cartwrights would be more than happy to tell him no matter what, but she did not argue. Any other conversation they might have had stopped as Kristine and Adam Jr. walked out of the house and began to play horseshoes.

It was rather comical watching the nine year old girl doing her best to be patient and teach her little brother to throw the horse shoe the way it needed to be thrown. Both Fredrick and Mary were sure the children were simply trying to keep busy while their parents and grandfather tended to Tabitha. When Mary let out a sigh, Fredrick turned and looked at his wife. He couldn't help but feel his heart go out to her. From the look in her eyes, Fredrick knew his wife was once more aching for a child of her own to hold. However, not knowing what else they could besides hope and pray that it would someday happen, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "We haven't had much time for ourselves the past couple of days." Fredrick whispered as he kept a hold of his wife with one hand and closed the loft doors with the other one, and they stayed shut for a solid hour.

~oOo~

"How is she?" Fredrick, who had been out splitting wood, asked somewhat hesitantly when he saw Adam, head slightly bent, staring into the empty fireplace. He feared what the man's actions, or lack of action, might mean.

Adam rubbed his forehead with his fingers before sitting up straight and looking at Fredrick. "She's not turning and tossing anymore and, from what Dr. Martin said, everything looks good. He is growing concerned because she's never fully regained consciousness, but he's not so worried as to transport her anywhere. He says the fact that she has drifted in and out of consciousness is a good thing and he hopes to avoid a trip to the hospital."

Fredrick was relieved to hear that. Though, he was concerned that she was still having problems. He remembered all too well his own ordeal and prayed that he hadn't been mistaken in what he'd told Kristine while talking to her. "Does he think they'll be any damage besides her broken arm?"

When his brother asked about Tabitha's injuries, Adam had Dr. Martin's words ring again in his ears. "The biggest concern I have is that when your daughter fell she; somehow, hit the back of her head. I know that by the bump on the back of her head." Dr. Martin looked at both Adam and Laura Ann, "The bump is over the area where the optic nerve runs. Semi-conscious or not, her pupils are responding to light; however, there's still a slight possibility her sight will be effected."

"Maybe," Adam slowly admitted. "All…" Adam never had a chance to finish his sentence as he heard Tabitha begin to scream for her mother. Since Mary had insisted on taking Laura Ann and Kristine for a ride, to get the distraught mother and her second daughter some fresh air, Adam jumped out of his chair and ran upstairs praying that Tabitha would settle for him, while Fredrick was right behind him, even if a part of him told him he had no business following Adam upstairs.

Ben, who had been sitting and watching over his granddaughter, was holding Tabitha when Adam and Fredrick entered the room. The young girl was still screaming for her mother as Adam hurried over and took her from his father. "Your mother will be home soon. For now I'm here." Adam said only to have chills go down his spine as the child grabbed on him with her good arm and held on for dear life and screamed, "I can't see, Pa, I can't see!"