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A Soldier's Due (or Adam and Sibella are Caught up in Scandal)

One

Breakfast had been a morose meal and Adam barely spoke the whole morning except when Noah had wanted "Up, up!" Then he had swept his son up in his arms and kissed his dark curls, closing his eyes to better relish the scent of his child. Sibella stood by in her black dress, the hat's veil not yet respectfully lowered, waiting to leave.

"Now, you stay here with Mrs. George and be a good boy," Adam told Noah. He handed the struggling toddler to the waiting woman who make comforting noises in an attempt to calm the child.

"Want go! Want go!' Noah arched his back, trying to escape Mrs. George's arms, grasping the air in reaching for his father. Adam started to respond but stopped himself and took a deep breath; Sibella recognized Adam's emotions were close to the surface and despite not talking about his friend's death, he felt it deeply and this simple parting from his child was affecting him, bringing up the tamped down emotions.

"Don't worry, Mr. Cartwright, he'll be fine once the two are you are off. Have…" She started to say 'Have a nice time,' but stopped herself. How could anyone have a nice time at a funeral? She wrapped her arms about the struggling child and Sibella waited on Adam while Mrs. George, in a placating voice asked Noah if he would like a nice cookie while she carried him to the kitchen. By his howling, Sibella didn't think Noah would, but she hadn't the time to deal with it.

Without a word, Adam put on his freshly brushed hat and opened the door, allowing Sibella to go through. The buggy was waiting. Chauncey, the older man who oversaw their homestead, held the reins while Adam helped Sibella up and then, climbing up, Adam took the reins, snapping them as Chauncey stepped back and watched the buggy leave for Virginia City.

The past few weeks had upturned Adam's life and Sibella didn't know how to help him; she was woefully inept when it came to such things. It wasn't that she lacked compassion, but Adam kept so much to himself that all she could do was tell him she was sorry, so sorry for his loss and when he lay his head on her bosom, she held him and stroked his hair. But he refused to discuss it.

And just three weeks earlier, Miss Pear, Adam's amanuensis and the woman who organized all matters at the office of Cartwright & Sons from coffee to contracts, announced she was engaged and would soon be marrying. Miss Pear was totally devoted to her boss, believing him to be the most handsome and intelligent man she had ever known. And he was kind and generous to her-someone Miss Pear could truly love. But unfortunately, Mr. Cartwright was bewitched by his wife, for Miss Pear no find no other reason for his devotion to such a silly, vain, selfish woman as Sibella except for a "supernatural" one. And many a time, while watching her boss talk to his wife who intruded whenever she happened to be in Virginia City, Miss Pear tried to picture the two together in bed and found it was embarrassingly easy to visualize handsome Adam Cartwright delighting in his wife who more than likely behaved as a slut to keep him interested in her. For Miss Pear, it was far more entertaining to daydream about her boss passionately pulling her into his arms, declaring his love for her, and having his way with her right on top of the desk at which she typed letters and ate her lunch.

When she broke the news of her engagement, Miss Pear's lips quivered; in her heart of hearts, she hoped Mr. Cartwright would announce his love for her, beg her not to marry anyone else and swear he was trying to shed himself of the grasping Sibella-but he didn't. Instead, he said he was happy for her and asked if it was the young man he had met the other day, Thomas, wasn't it, who had taken her to lunch a few times? She said yes, it was, Thomas Miller, and Mr. Cartwright said he didn't know how or if he could ever replace Miss Pear but he wished her nothing but happiness. Miss Pear was devastated.

When Adam had told Sibella at dinner that same night, she knew he was more upset than he was letting on.

"Well," Sibella had said, "I'm happy for her but…what about you?" Sibella suspected Miss Pear considered herself Adam's office wife and had a wild crush on him. After all, she herself did and she had been married to him for over three years. And yet, each morning when she woke up and saw him, Sibella felt what she could only describe as a schoolgirl crush that made her thrill when he kissed her good morning or pulled her back into his embrace and began to run his hands over her, delighting her.

"What do you mean?" Adam asked as he reached for a roll.

"You'll have to hire someone else, run an advertisement and interview people, maybe from even Carson City or as far as San Francisco."

"I suppose I will." Adam's jaw was set and Sibella knew he was upset about the upcoming loss of reliable and conscientious Miss Pear; he needed her.

"But I can help in the interval…"

"No, no, no, Sibella." Adam raised a hand to stop her from continuing. "You just take care of things at home the way you do now and I'll handle the office. Pass the salt, will you?"

Sibella handed him the salt cellar with a sour look that he ignored.

"But, Adam, working in the office would give me something to do and besides, we could have lunch together and it would save money as I'd work for nothing. Besides," Sibella gave him her most beguiling smile, "you could pull me on your lap and raise my skirts while I took dictation or do even more when business was slow."

"I'll manage, Sibella. It's best you stay at home."

He was dismissive of her but Sibella knew he was aware Mrs. George did almost everything about the house and Chauncey did everything needed on the grounds although she did do a bit of gardening and cutting roses or daisies to arrange for the house. That was the most exercise she had except when it came to getting on the floor to play with Noah, chasing him about outside or riding her horse, Delilah. She had to now cut down on certain foods to keep her shape but she would starve herself before she'd have her dresses let out! Adam just didn't want her in the office and Sibella admitted to herself, he was probably right; she had no particular clerical abilities. But she easily became bored which was why she was so often in town and on various church committees and The Ladies Guild. So, she said no more about the future loss of Miss Pear nor did Adam, but Sibella knew he was upset.

And then, what really turned things upside down was Morgan Graham dying by his own hand and Sibella could only stand by and watch Adam's heart break at the news.