Adam, My Son
Chapter 1
All canon characters belong to David Dortort and Paramount Pictures. I make no money from this story.
This story takes place before the end of "Joseph, My Son", at approximately the point where (spoiler alert!) Joseph and Eleanor have just been divorced and she, baby Andrew and her mother are leaving for Sacramento.
Prudence Cartwright and her sister Sally Ann Whitman made a stop to visit with her student Clarence Underhill a few days before the start of the new school year. Clarence had been a first-grader last year and he had caused some challenges for Prudence with his difficulty in keeping still and his fetish for handwashing. They'd made great strides together and the boy had become a special favorite of hers. Clarence had even spent a few days with Prudence and Hoss around Eastertime when his youngest sibling had been born. Now, she wanted to introduce him to her younger sister who would be taking over the responsibility for the Virginia City School, since Prudence was "in the family way".
Clarence and his little sister Maggie where running around the yard playing "tag" and their mother sat on the porch rocking baby Charlie in his cradle while she mended some clothes. When she saw the two young women in the buckboard, she put her work down and stood up to greet them.
"Mrs. Cartwright, what a pleasure to see you. If I'd known you'd be visiting, I would have made some cookies." As the two teacher's left the small wagon to mount the steps to the porch, Mrs. Underhill quietly said, "And I hear you're gonna have your own little one down the line."
"Yes, and that's why I wanted to visit. My sister here is taking over teaching, and I wanted Clarence to meet her before the school starts in a few days, so he won't be surprised or upset that I'm not there. Sally Ann is also a graduate of the same Normal College that I attended. We've talked about the techniques I've used to help Clarence and she will be following along with what's worked well with him, plus a few ideas of her own."
"Thank you. That's very thoughtful of you. Mr. Underhill and I are very grateful for all the things you've done for our big boy. He still can't stop talking about spending those few days with you and Mr. Cartwright when little Charlie here was born."
"We enjoyed having him. Perhaps now that I'm not his teacher, he could visit with us again? You know, my husband and I both love children and we had a lot of fun with him back in the spring. I know that he'd love seeing the beavers in our pond getting ready for the winter. In fact, why don't you and the whole family come visit us for supper this Saturday?" Prudence looked down at little Charlie. "Eric and I could both use a refresher course in caring for an infant."
"Oh, if you've cared for one before, it comes right back to you," laughed Mrs. Underhill. "Let me call the older two over."
She didn't have to call Clarence over twice. He came zooming up to the porch with his sister right behind him. "Mrs. Cartwright! Mrs. Cartwright!" He would have jumped on her if his mother hadn't caught hold of him.
"Clarence, remember that we great people calmly. Then you can ask them, only if they are very special friends, if you can give them a hug. If they say 'Yes', you hug them politely, not like you're going to squeeze the life out of them, right?"
"Yes, Ma," he turned to Prudence and extended his hand to her. "Howd'ya do, Mrs. Cartwright. I'm sure happy you came to visit us. May I give you a hug?"
"Yes, you may Clarence. I'm very happy to see you too!" With that she knelt down and swept the boy into her arms.
When she stood up she took his hand and turned her toward Sally Ann. "You know, Clarence, I'm not going to be teaching school this year, but this is my sister and she'll be taking over."
Clarence looked disappointed. "Why aren't you teaching us?"
"Well,' began Prudence, "it's because next winter, Mr. Cartwright and I are going to have our own baby."
"But you could still teach! My Ma took care of the house and plenty of other stuff before Charlie was born."
"I wish I could, Clarence. But the School Board has its rules. And anyway, I couldn't take care of my baby and teach at the same time and it's not easy finding a teacher in the middle of the year."
"Still…" he said shuffling his feet on the boards of the porch.
"That's why I wanted to introduce you to my sister. You can call her Miss Whitman. I think you'll like her just as much as you like me. You might even like her better! She was the one who always came up with the best games when we were younger. And I just invited your whole family to come out to our place to have supper with Mr. Cartwright and I on Saturday. You know we have a new filly now, too. I'm sure you and Maggie would like to see her."
"Oh, yeah, would we! Ma, are we going to go? Are we?"
Mrs. Underhill ruffled his hair while his sister stood shyly to the side. "Well, I have to ask your father, of course, but I suspect that he'll agree."
A few minutes later they left to return to town where they stopped to pick up Pru's weekly staples and then she brought Sally Ann to the schoolhouse where she'd settle in for the next few days until the first day of school on Wednesday.
"Well, you described him perfectly, Pru," said the younger sister. "I think with the notes you have on him on what worked well and what didn't, it'll be alright."
"I'm sure it will. Now, are you going to be comfortable being here by yourself? The Sherriff's Office isn't far away if you need something. I'm sure that Sheriff Coffey or Clem can help if you need it."
Sally Ann gave her sister a long, sarcastic look. "I managed two years away at college, remember? I know most of Virginia City after spending the summer here. You don't have to worry!"
"Yes, I know, but… In any event, either Eric or Adam will be here to pick you up on Friday afternoon, after school lets out. Do you think you want to stay with us if the Underhill's come on Saturday or stay with at the big house?"
"I think it would be more appropriate if I stayed at Ben's. I don't want the other parents to think that I'm favoring Clarence over their children."
XXXXX
It was Adam who was waiting for her with the buggy on Friday afternoon. After handing him her carpet bag, she also handed him a book. It was one of the one's he had lent her the week before, Dickens's "Our Mutual Friend".
"Finished it already?" he asked.
"Well, I certainly had the time for it. I doubt that I'll have the leisure to read something that long until Christmastime," Sally Ann replied.
"You can keep the books as long as you need, you know. It's not like I'm a library that charges you if the book becomes overdue."
"Speaking of libraries," she said, turning on the seat of the buggy to face Adam, "why is there no lending library in Virginia City?"
"No interest so far," he stated, off-handedly.
"Perhaps if there were one, there would be some interest. Your father is a member of the town council. Why doesn't he suggest it?"
"You could talk to him about. It would cost the town a good bit to start one and those people who like to read and have the time for it have their own personal libraries, like I do. Others don't have the time or the money for many books. Most people are content to have a bible in their homes and spend a penny on the newspaper. I don't know how much interest the townsfolk would actually have in the idea."
"Really! There's no sense in not having a library, in the long run. What do you do if you find out about a book you're interested in, Adam? Hmm?"
He couldn't tell if he was annoyed or happy when she challenged him. She certainly made him think. "Well, if I read about a new and interesting book, it's usually in the newspaper and usually the publisher is mentioned. I then send a letter to said publisher asking for the price of the book and shipping and if I decide that I'd like to have it, I send a check to them. It will take a few weeks, but then I have it to enjoy."
"And how much do you spend each year on new books?" she asked, leading to her point.
"I don't know, a few hundred dollars all together, I suppose."
"And do you lend them to anyone besides me?"
"I've lent a couple, borrowed a couple. Not too many people have the time or the inclination to read just for pleasure here."
"That's just a shame. Here I am, trying to encourage my students to read, to go on to continue to learn on their own even if they are not in school. How can they do that if they don't have access to books!"
"Sally Ann," Adam sighed, "you can't remake the world in your image. Not everyone wants to continue to learn, much as you and I find that astounding. Most people out here learn what they need in order to make a living and read what they need to in order to keep up with the world. You have to realize that you and I are in the minority in this case. Even Hoss usually only reads new husbandry books, and Little Joe used to only read detective stories. Now he doesn't even read that. Pa likes to read a little poetry now and then, but he's usually got his head buried in almanacs and his ledgers. Now if you want to go on a crusade about a library for Virginia City, be my guest. The next town council meeting will be on the first of next month and you can request permission to speak to it. In fact, speak your heart out. I can almost guarantee you'll fail, but that's your prerogative, Madame!"
"Humph! See if I don't just do it. And if I do, I do not intend to fail. I might not succeed this time, Adam Cartwright, but I will continue to lobby for a library until I do!"
"Stubborn…" he whispered under his breath.
XXXXX
Prudence had been a little lonely with Sally Ann staying in town all week and choosing to stay at the big house this first weekend. At least she and Eric would be going up on Sunday for the weekly family supper with Ben, Adam and Joe, and she could spend some time with her sister before she went back to town in the evening, but after a whole summer together, it felt strange. Hoss had realized and did his best to distract her and he was pretty successful, if he did say so himself. He did enjoy having Sally Ann with them, but he naturally liked being alone with his wife more. And now, in the five months before their child was to be born, he appreciated having her all to himself very, very much.
Most nights after all the chores were finished and the kitchen cleaned up, he would sit her on his lap in front of the fireplace, stroking her cheek and nuzzling her hair, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her. Prudence liked to curl up in his strong arms, her head in the crook of his neck, a finger idly playing with the hair on his chest until he caught her attention with his kisses; first soft and gentle and then more and more intense. The evening almost always ended with Hoss picking up Pru and carrying her to their bedroom, gently but quickly ridding her of her clothes, while she did the same for him. As his kisses were bestowed all over her body, she cooed and moaned in delight, finally calling for him as ecstasy overtook them both.
There might be a shared feeling of sadness after their lovemaking, since they were so happy in their marriage and Joseph was so deeply wounded by his divorce and the loss of his little family, but before that, they didn't have the capacity to think of anything but their need to be one Sometimes they would talk quietly after their lovemaking, but often as not, it was enough just to lie in each other's arms, listening to each other's heartbeat. On this particular night, however, something was bothering Hoss.
"Pru…?"
"What, Eric? What's the matter?"
"I'm sorry, I know it's different between us and the way it was between Little Joe and Eleanor but I've just gotta know" he took a deep breath, "that if anything happened like that for the two of us, neither you nor I would try to keep each other from our children, that we'd find a way to raise them together in the same place. Promise me, Pru!"
At first she was alarmed, but she knew well enough that Joe's divorce had scarred not only him, but the whole family. "I promise, Eric. Should it ever -God forbid! - come to that, I want to believe that we would put our family first and not engage in a battle of self-righteousness and vindictiveness. But we've been married a few years now and we've gotten through a few difficult moments where we pulled together, not just for ourselves, but for the rest of the family as well. I'd like to think, even as we become an old, settled couple, that the love and regard will still be there."
"I'd like to believe that too, my darling girl. I think it'd rip my heart out otherwise."
"Mine as well," Prudence said as she nestled deeper into his arms.
The next day was Saturday and Prudence began baking loaves of bread and cookies and pies just as soon as the morning chores were done, and the breakfast dishes cleaned up. Hoss spent the entire morning currying the horses and even braiding the manes of Jill, Mitchy, and Nebby. Massie was still nursing from Nebby, who wasn't too pleased to have even Hoss handle her filly too much, so he let the young horse be. Besides, the baby Clydesdale was cute enough as she was; he figured she didn't need any fancying up. He put long red ribbons in Polly's mane, not wanting her to feel left out. She was a good horse, but since Chubb was a gelding, it wasn't likely that she'd ever have a foal of her own. Hoss didn't know if it meant anything to the mare, but now that the entire spread seemed to be having babies, he felt some sadness for her. Maybe one of the wild horses they routinely tamed would be a good stud for her. Once he realized what he was thinking about, Hoss shook himself and laughed. This thing about becoming a father was serious business indeed!
By the time he finished with the animals, Prudence called him in to help take their good china from the top of the kitchen cabinet and then sent him off to clean up and put on his good pants, shirt, and a black string tie.
The Underhill family arrived a little after noon and with a gentle restraining hand on his arm, Clarence remembered not to jump down from the buggy and into Hoss's arms. He climbed down nicely, walked over to his big friend, and extended his hand. "I'm real happy to see you again, Mr. Cartwright."
"And I'm sure glad to see you too, Clarence, and meet your family as well," he replied.
"Can I give you a hug now?"
"Sure can, son!" said Hoss, laughing. "Are you gonna introduce me to your family?"
"Of course," the boy said seriously. After he'd done that, (and very politely, as well), he started bouncing up and down on his toes. "I told Maggie all about the beaver dam. Can we go and see it? I remember about how to be quiet and let animals decide if they want to hide from you or not, like you taught me. I taught it to my sister, and she's real good at following directions. Can you take us?"
"Sure will. Would you like to join us, Mr. Underhill? The womenfolk can stay here and rest a bit. When we come back, I can show you our special horses. "
"Yes, the children and I would enjoy that. Please, call me 'Harry'."
XXXXX
Saturdays on the Ponderosa were typically spent on chores in the morning and by mid-afternoon the ranch hands went in to see Ben at his desk and collect their week's wages. Most left for Virginia City right after to spend some money, have some drinks and perhaps play cards. Sally Ann had spent the morning at the table outside on the porch, working on marking some of the first week's papers and preparing the lesson plans for the coming week, when she wasn't distracted by the men coming and going. Joseph and Adam had their own chores to do and weren't around for much of the early part of the day. Once the youngest of the Cartwright men was done for the day, he quietly saddled his horse and went off alone. Adam came walking over from the barn and stood by the young woman's side as they watched his brother ride off.
"It really hurts to see him like that, Adam. I wish I could wave a wand and make all the pain go away for him," said Sally Ann with a sigh.
"So do I. My heart bleeds for him," replied his brother. Shaking himself, he said, "I'll be inside. I think it's time I took a look at some of the drawings Ted made for stronger harnesses and axels for Clydesdale-drawn vehicles. Pa's leaving to go see how Mr. McIntosh is feeling down on their spread. If anything happens out here, just give a shout.
All was quiet for the next hour, until Sally Ann gathered up her papers and went inside. Adam had spread out his mechanical drawings on the dining room table and was hunched over them, pencil and straight edge in hand.
"It's a wonder your back doesn't hurt, sitting like that," the young woman noted as she put down her things on the table in front of the big fireplace. "I'm going to make some coffee. Do you want some?"
"Is your coffee-making up to Cartwright standards?" he asked, stretching.
"You mean stronger than strong and angrier than a riled-up skunk? I can do that. I am amazed that the three of you grew up on that and yet it somehow didn't stunt your growth," she said as she walked into Hop Sing's kitchen.
"Oh, but it did!" Adam replied, following her. "Hoss would have been seven feet five if he hadn't had so much as a youngster. I would still have been a little shorter than him, but not by much, but then, I started drinking the stuff in my baby bottle, you know."
"And I would have been Queen Victoria if I had been born in England!"
Sally Ann started ladling the coffee into the big pot while Adam watched. Finally, he grabbed her hand. "I think that'll be strong enough. It wouldn't do to have you up all night now would it? Either you'd be rattling around keeping the rest of us awake, or I'd have to be up entertaining you. You are our guest, after all."
"And here I was thinking I was part of the family," she replied with a smirk. "I don't suppose that I get an exemption for being your sister-in-law's sister, do I?"
"Well, we usually don't just let anyone join our ranks," Adam said as he picked up the coffee pot while Sally Ann took the two saucers and cups with her back to the dining room table. "There is usually a trial period you know."
"And being here all summer wasn't enough?"
"Well, the trial period is usually called… Never mind." Adam suddenly realized that he was about to say "courting" and that they were flirting with each other. But they couldn't. She was so much younger than he was. It wasn't right. It wasn't really the "done" thing. He was a man who'd had his share of women, both the type you only spent a night with for a few dollars and the type you brought home to your family. She was little more than a girl. There were a thousand and one reasons why this was wrong. It didn't matter that she could match him word for word and thought for thought. She was too young, too inexperienced…too virginal.