A/N: Up next is Caution: Easter Bunny Crossing at last! This episode has always been a favorite, plus Hoss in a giant bunny suit is hilarious, so I couldn't not include it even though Annie and Candy wouldn't really be seeing much of what leads up to the great reveal. It ended up really short for the aforementioned reason, but those with sharp eyes will spot a hint of the future for one of our favorite Cartwrights though the exact circumstances of that episode are still up in the air. Message me with any suggestions, please, I always love to hear what you all think.
We're getting very close to the season finale, and the next chapter is Matter of Circumstance. Any thoughts or suggestions about that or the finale, Never Say Die? I have Matter of Circumstance written, and the finale almost written so updates for that shouldn't take as long. As always, I own nothing but my OC and my original episodes.
"You know," Annie adjusted her hat and shifted easily in the saddle as Blue ambled along at a steady walk. "I have to wonder why a man with standard royalties on a million dollar mining claim is checking cows at a foreman's salary." Beside her on the Honeycomb gelding, Candy laughed.
"Thought you hated mines. Besides, the silver could shift course, run off the claim, and then what do I have?" He glanced sideways. "Nothing, that's what. If I didn't have that money, they wouldn't bother to stop and say howdy. I guess I've known that my whole life, but it didn't really sink in until he handed me that suitcase full of money." A bitter taste filled her mouth.
"I'm sorry."
"You haven't got a thing to be sorry for, sweetheart. I know who my real friends are and it's not a bunch of society snobs in Virginia City." His lips twitched. "It was fun watching Mrs. Smith grovel, though." Annie burst out laughing. "I'm just glad I could finally do something nice for all of you for once. Even if a handful of silver saddles and Blue don't come close to making up for all the times you've saved my hide over the past few years." She stopped laughing.
"You don't owe us anything, Candy."
"I wanted to."
"I don't think Joe knows what to do now that he's not the only moneyed bachelor in town." Candy laughed.
"It doesn't seem to have slowed him down, didn't I hear him talking about a girl in Carson he's seeing?"
"I think her name is Alice, but by Easter it could be Susan or Elizabeth."
"He does get around."
"If he ever gets married, I'll be shocked."
"Hoss did."
"And he and Erin can give Pa the grandchildren he wants." There was certainly no way she ever would. "Come on, let's get these cows checked and head home, it's almost dinner time."
"And if we're late, there won't be nothing left after Hoss gets through with it." They shared a laugh and nudged their horses into a lope.
"300 head of prime beef for the Central Pacific railroad crews at Point Summit, Colonel Boudin commanding." Dinner over, Annie paced across the room, counting orders off a tally sheet.
"Check," Ben called from his desk. Hoss sat in the nearby chair, munching an apple. Candy eyed him with amusement and Hoss shrugged.
"Ain't nothing wrong with my appetite." Erin snorted and he froze, apple halfway to his mouth. She shook her head and perched on the arm of the chair.
"Of course there's not. My Hoss needs to keep up his strength."
"Annie?" Ben tapped his pen against his ledger. "We have other business to conduct this afternoon, so if you don't mind?"
"250 pack horses for the 13th Cavalry at Fort Folsom, Captain Ryder commanding." She tossed her brother a smirk as she passed the chair. "And one head of gentle milk for the Schuyler Vineyards, Miss Moffet commanding." She froze, forehead wrinkling.
"Check."
"One head of gentle …" She whipped around. "Did I say that?"
"Yes," Ben chuckled. "I wrote that one up myself. Miss Charity Moffet. At the old Viscaya Winery, you know, on the old trail to Carson."
"That's been deserted for years," Hoss broke in. "Ever since they built the new road through the mountains."
"Yes. Miss Moffet is a spinster lady, a Quaker from back east. She's turned it into a home." Ben glanced up at them, and Annie noted amusement dancing in his eyes. "For her children." Hoss froze, the apple hanging from his mouth. Candy blinked several times and Erin stared.
"A spinster lady with children?" Candy questioned, and Ben nodded.
"Eighteen of them." The apple hit the floor and Erin's eyes widened. Annie felt her jaw fall open. Ben looked around and chuckled. "Orphans," he clarified.
"So we're selling her a milk cow."
"Call it a contribution. If one of you could take the cow over to her –"
"We'll do it, Pa." Erin hopped off the chair arm. "I'm sure she'd love to have another woman to talk to, and Hoss can make sure the old place is in working order, can't you?" Candy hid a smile and Annie bit her tongue to keep from laughing as Hoss' face twisted into several expressions before he finally sighed.
"Of course, darling." He got to his feet. "I'll go saddle the horses and pick out a cow."
"Land sakes you should have seen Hoss' face!" Erin laughed, amusement dancing in her eyes. "He thought Miss Moffet was an old woman, but she's about our age. He asked her if she'd get her 'mother or teacher or whatever you call her,' and this woman gets a look in her eyes not too different from yours, Annie, then introduces herself as Charity Moffet." Joe giggled like a school girl and Annie shook her head while holding back her own laughter. "He even said, 'oh, you don't look it', meaning, look old, and stumbled all over that after putting his foot in his mouth." All of them looked at Hoss, who was trying to pretend he could sink right through the floor, ears glowing red as he focused on his supper.
"Well, who'd expect a woman that young to herd around eighteen kids?" He dropped his fork against his plate. "Dagrabbit – I mean dagnabit, any one of you would have done the same thing." Erin giggled and he flushed a deeper red, then pushed his plate away. "Six o clock comes mighty early, I think I'll turn in." He left the table, leaving them all a tad confused, except for Erin who burst out in wild laughter and followed her husband upstairs. Ben blinked and looked around at the rest of them.
"That make any sense to you?" They shook their heads slowly and he shook his head. "I didn't think so." He made a face. "Very strange."
"Yeah." Candy stared up at the ceiling, then back to the table. "Something ain't right, that's for sure. He didn't even have any seconds." Joe's eyebrows rose and he whistled softly.
"Something's got big brother in a tangle all right."
"He must have really been embarrassed," Annie said.
"Oh, if that's all it was, he'll be fine," Ben said reassuringly. "I'll make sure Hop Sing prepares extra for breakfast."
"Sis, come on, we'll be late for the dance." Joe pulled out his watch and gave the face a pointed look. Candy chuckled.
"She does it on purpose, you know."
"Oh, I know." He stuffed his watch back into his coat pocket. "At least she's not ordering a hundred hard-boiled eggs to boot."
"Eggs?"
"Yep. Brother Hoss is giving dyed eggs to those orphans for Easter. I guess he felt bad for thinking Miss Charity was old or something. Annie, come on."
"Joe, you know the girls will wait for you no matter how late you are." Annie swept into view and hurried down the stairs, skirt raised a hair to avoid tripping on it. "I don't know why I let you talk me into going." She always tried to avoid these Saturday night dances; she'd end up being a wallflower before three dances had passed, then she'd have to ignore the pitying looks of those old society cats all evening. At least she'd get to dance with Candy now that he had "enough" money to qualify as good enough to be seen in her company. Not that he'd given them any reason to up the always-present whispers to a rolling boil of speculation. Annie doubted he ever would, and she had to accept that. Those few dances aside, he'd never indicated he saw her as anything but a friend.
"You'd get mad at me if you didn't get a chance to catch up with Alicia and Mrs. Bowen."
"That's what I do after church on Sundays."
"Oh, come on." Joe caught her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. "Let's go, Candy already brought the buggy around. You stay here, you might get hogtied into helping dye a hundred hard-boiled eggs."
"What for?"
"You'd have to ask Hoss. We'll be back later, Pa," he called over his shoulder on the way out the door.
It was a fairly quiet ride to town, save for Joe's occasional comment about Hoss' strange behavior. "Hey, I bet Erin knows what's going on."
"He was embarrassed because he thought she was old. You know Hoss," Annie said with a shrug.
"Don't get me wrong, I would be too, but it'd take a lot to get me to run around and hide eggs for a bunch of kids." Candy threw back his head and laughed. Joe reined Cochise closer to the buggy with a frown. "Just what is so funny?"
"Joe, you'd do anything a pretty girl asked you to do, and you know it." Annie snorted and his attention flew from Candy to her.
"Well, since some people around here don't appreciate my company, I'll just ride ahead." He spurred Cochise before they could reply and rode off.
"What got into him?" Candy frowned. "He's acting almost as strange as Hoss." Annie sighed.
"I think he feels left out."
"How?"
"Hoss is married now and besides us, what friends does he really have?" Candy stared off into the distance for a moment.
"I never really thought about it, but you're right. He's got a few others, but he doesn't really see them that often. Hey, maybe we'll find something fun to do for your birthday, it's coming up real soon."
"Don't remind me. I'm sure Pa's already planning a big party."
"As much as Joe loves 'em I would think you would, too." Annie shrugged.
"Just one more way we're complete opposites."
"Even now that he's got the money to be acceptable as Ben's son-in-law, he won't consider doing right by that poor girl." Annie's blood chilled at the whispered hiss of conversation drifting across the refreshment table from Mrs. Smith and her cohorts. If they realized she was standing within earshot, they clearly didn't care. "I don't know why he keeps that drifter around after the man spent so long alone with her in the mine. Does he expect us to believe that nothing happened in all that time?"
"Shh, not so loud, Emma." Harriet Castor looked around quickly, neglecting to check behind them. "Someone might hear you."
"Canaday might have some money now, but there's no telling how that claim will pan out, if it pans out at all. His standard royalties might be a percentage of nothing. Will you let Ruth keep company with him if that happens?"
"Why … I don't know. He is a nice young man, Emma." Sure took her long enough to figure that out.
"What nice young man refuses to marry a woman after he spent a month alone with her? I'm glad my Mary is settled, I certainly wouldn't want him coming around her."
Annie's fingers tightened on her punch cup. How. Dare. They? Appearances be damned, she wasn't going to stand there and let them talk about Candy that way. The vast majority of party-goers wouldn't have heard them over the band and the hum of other conversations filling the room, but she'd heard them and that was too much. She'd scratch that old bat's eyes out and hang the consequences.
Annie whipped around, intending to do battle, and crashed into Candy, splashing punch down the front of his shirt. The noise attracted Harriet Castor's attention and her eyes widened in horror, one hand flying to her mouth. Mrs. Smith turned, eyes narrowed in scorn. She looked them over and sniffed in disgust.
Candy caught her arm, out of sight of the gossiping women, and squeezed gently, his eyes pleading with her not to make a scene. He must have heard at least part of that, why else would he have that look on his face? For one moment, she wished he'd just ask, even if he didn't mean it, or feel anything more than friendship. At least then he wouldn't be talked about at every party in town like he was some kind of animal. Surely, they could make it work somehow without losing the friendship they had, couldn't they?
"Joe's dancing with Alice and he said he's gonna stay a while longer." There was a lightness to his tone that rang hollow to her ears. "You said to find you at ten. Still want to head home early?"
"Let me get my shawl." He followed her to the rack of coats and wraps and waited while she dug through the pile for hers, anger making her movements jerky and sharp. How. Dare. They? She found her shawl and threw it around her shoulders hard enough it ruffled her hair, then stalked outside into the night.
She didn't say a word as she climbed into the buggy and Candy untied the mare from the hitch rail. He climbed in beside her and backed the rig, then slapped the lines over the horse's back to put her to a trot. "I know what you're going to say. Don't. They're not worth it."
"You heard them back there!" She threw her hands in the air. "She practically said we –"
"And we know it didn't happen. More importantly, your pa knows it didn't happen and that's all that matters." He swallowed hard. "If you can't stand to hear her anymore, I could always ride –"
"No!" Her heart skipped a beat, blood rushing in her ears. "I've never cared what she says about me, I just can't stand to listen to her talk about you like you're trash." Candy sighed and caught her hand.
"I know where I stand in their opinions, money or no money. It doesn't matter, people have always hated me, it's nothing new. As soon as something else interesting comes along, they'll forget about that blasted mine."
"There's already been a courthouse cave-in, several bank robberies, a handful of murders and shootings, two shotgun weddings … what do you think it's going to take if none of that shut her up?" He laughed softly and squeezed her hand.
"It'll blow over eventually." He touched her cheek. "Don't worry about it, tomorrow's Easter and I for one can't wait to carve that ham Hop Sing has been guarding with a cleaver the past three days." Annie forced a smile and stared down at the road passing under the wheels.
She couldn't tie him down anymore than Noreen could have for Beaudry. A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed hard. If only …
Annie lay awake, unable to sleep. Thank the Lord it was Easter, all they had to do was the everyday chores, maybe ride out and check on the herd, nothing she couldn't handle half asleep. She squinted at the clock in the gloom, almost four-thirty and she hadn't done more than toss and turn all night.
A door closed down the hall and she frowned. What was someone doing up at this hour? She threw off the covers and hurried to the door, opening it just as their father called out, "Hoss? That you?" She stuck her head out into the hall and found her middle brother standing at the head of the stairs, bundled up in a heavy coat, a scarf wrapped around his neck, and his hat pulled low over his ears. Candy opened his door a few seconds later and they all looked at each other in confusion.
"Hi, Pa." Hoss chuckled nervously. "What are you all doing up at this time of the morning?"
"What time is it?" Candy yawned and scratched his head. "I know it's not time to get up."
"Oh, I'd say about 4:22." Hoss shuffled in place. "Honest."
"Four twenty-two?" Ben sounded more than confused.
"Yep." Hoss' face twisted just as his bedroom door opened and Erin appeared, a tiny smile on her face as she leaned against the frame. "Oh, I'm late. I gotta get crackin', I'm going to a sunrise." Do what? Annie blinked slowly.
"What are you so bundled up for?" He shrugged.
"You now how drafty these March mornings get around Easter. I gotta get hopping – riding. I'll see thee … thou … you. I'll see you later." He turned and scurried down the stairs. Ben looked around at all of them and shook his head as if to say it's not worth it. He turned to go back into his room just as Joe appeared in the hallway.
"It's really not that cold out, big brother. Oh, hey, Pa. Annie, Candy, Erin. What are you all doing up at this hour of the morning?" Their father's eyebrows rose.
"Are you riding out before breakfast, too?"
"What? No. I just got in. I gotta get dressed."
"You are dressed, buddy," Candy said with a smirk.
"Not in my Sunday best, these are my Saturday nights, pal. I'm taking Alice to church this afternoon."
"This afternoon?" Annie blinked. "What's the rush?"
"Yeah, what your sister said." Ben rubbed the back of his neck.
"I gotta catch the early Wells Fargo," Joe explained with a grin. "Alice lives in Carson City." he slapped their pa on the back and disappeared into his room just as Hop Sing left his.
"What's all the noise? What you doing up this time of morning? Hop Sing no can sleep!" He dissolved into furious Chinese and Erin laughed before going back to bed. Hop Sing stalked back to his room, still ranting, and their pa shook his head slowly, slumping against the door frame.
"Why me, Lord?" He sighed and closed the door behind him. Candy shook his head and Annie shrugged.
"I guess we'll find out when we find out. Night, sweetheart." His door closed, and she closed hers softly, leaning against the heavy wood. What was so important about a sunrise? A yawn threatened to unhinge her jaw and she went back to bed.
"Can you even see where you're riding? Blue just about walked into that bush." Candy eyed her with mild amusement. Annie fought another yawn and reined the roan around the next clump of brush.
"I couldn't sleep."
"Ah. Should the old bat fear for anything in particular?" Annie smothered a snort.
"I haven't decided. She –"
"Hey, isn't that Chub?" Instantly alert, Annie turned the direction Candy was pointing, and sure enough, her brother's horse was standing calmly and cropping grass a few feet off the trail. Her head swiveled, but there was no sign of Hoss anywhere.
"What happened?"
"I don't know." Candy collected the big gelding's reins and looked the animal over. "He doesn't look hurt or anything. Maybe he just got away from Hoss."
"He's been through gunfights and Indian attacks, what could possibly make him spook if that didn't?"
"Search me. Hoss has got to be around here somewhere." They rode on, scanning the ground for tracks. They crested a ridge and started down the other side, Candy leading Chub. "See anything?"
"No. Maybe –"
"Whoa, you gnarly stupid nag!" Hoss' voice rang out over the ridge and they turned just as a black horse shot over the top, weighed down by black leather cases and a giant rabbit–
Annie's jaw dropped, then she was fighting to keep Blue under control as the stallion caught sight of the oncoming horse and rabbit. Chub neighed and shied violently sideways, almost tearing Candy from the saddle, the Honeycomb gelding spooking just as wildly in the other direction. Hoss and the black horse shot between them at a dead gallop, long ears flopping. "Whoa! Whoa! Stupid!" The animal tore over the next ridge and disappeared. They got the horses calmed down and just stared at each other open-mouthed in shock.
"Was that Hoss?" Candy finally asked.
"I think so." They traded looks and burst out laughing, almost falling off their horses in the process. "She knew the whole time!"
"Had-had to get hopping!"
"He was playing the Easter Bunny!"
"Wait till Joe hears this!"
"So, how'd you come to acquire that black stallion?" His tone was nonchalant, but the twinkle in his eyes was anything but. "And how did they come to bring Chub home?" Ben gestured at them and Hoss swallowed hard. Annie smothered a giggle and Candy hid a laugh with a cough. Erin covered her mouth with her napkin, her eyes dancing.
"Well, I kinda found him."
"You found him?"
"Yes, sir. You see, old Chub ran off when an animal spooked him and that stallion was just standing out there all alone, so I just rode him home."
"Well, we'll have to track down his owner. A fine animal like that …" Ben shook his head. "Someone is missing that horse." Hoss nodded and resumed eating. Ben waited until he had the fork halfway to his mouth. "You know, Hoss, you must have been born with a lucky rabbit's foot." The fork froze in midair and her brother beamed them a livid glare, bringing them both to snickering laughter. Candy reached for a bowl and grinned.
"Have a carrot?" Hoss scowled.
"I don't even like carrots." Ben laughed, followed by Erin and the rest of them. Hoss feigned annoyance a few moments longer then joined in.
"You know," Candy said between laughs. "When I was little, I didn't even believe in you."
"Very funny." Hoss dug into his food and stuffed a forkful into his mouth. "Very funny."