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Part 1 of 14

by Robin

Chapter 1

Ponderosa Ranch,

Fall 1871

The ranch house was crowded with happy, noisy celebrating guests. For the first time in a very long time there was a real party at the Ponderosa. A big paper sign was hanging over the mantle that said “Welcome Home Joe” and a second banner declared “Happy Birthday Ben”. Sam Cartwright and Casey Newkirk had spent most of two days painting and cutting the letters for the sign from newsprint from the Enterprise. Sam had wanted to say “Welcome Home Uncle Joe” and “Happy Birthday Grandpa” but Casey’s patiently reminded him that only Sam and the two babies who couldn’t talk called the men by those names. Most people knew them as Joe and Ben Cartwright. And “Joe” and “Ben” each had three letters, far fewer letters to paint than “Uncle Joe” and “Grandpa”.

Adam Cartwright was leaning up against the wall next to the stone fireplace of the Ponderosa ranch house with his arm wrapped around his wife Kate’s waist. She was holding their sleeping new baby daughter, Elizabeth.  Hays Newkirk, Roy Coffee and Levi Victor were standing next to Phil Bartlett. All of them were listening to Adam proudly recount some story about the summer in Boston. Every once in a while Phil added a comment or a nod.

Ben’s gaze settled on his youngest son. Joseph was finally looking like the old healthy, jolly Joe of the past. Ben’s youngest son was clearly enjoying the party and seeing everyone and being the center of attention. Having him home and healthy was the best gift Ben could ever imagine. That, and having his three grand children nearby. It still made Ben tremble to think how close he had come to losing this son in the past year, how long Joe had taken to recover and the difficulties they had all faced in Boston with Laura Dayton.

In his accustomed perch at the far end of the room, sitting on the stairs, Joe was slowly but surely demolishing a plate of mashed potatoes and fried chicken, and in addition, Ben was pleased to observe, a reasonably sized portion of ham and green beans too. It gave Ben immense satisfaction to see his youngest son eating so heartily again.

Never anywhere as tall as his brothers, Joe was still a broad shouldered man with a slim but well muscled frame. His injuries and the long period of recovery that had followed had left him gaunt, and hollow cheeked. He looked like he was filling out all his old clothes again and a few days of outside ranch work and riding Cochise had already brought back his healthy color.

 Sam Cartwright walked over to his uncle with two plates over flowing with pies and cakes and sat down on a step lower than his Uncle and leaned against Joe’s leg. Ben’s oldest grandson started digging into his own heaping plate of desserts. All of the eligible young ladies in Virginia City had heard Joe Cartwright was back at the Ponderosa and needed to “plump up” They had all made it their business to make sure they were invited to the party. Most of them and their kind mothers came with some special pie or cake or other tempting homemade treat for Joe. Sam was gleefully sampling each one and giving his full evaluation of each dish and each young lady to his happy uncle.

Ever since Joe was a small boy he would wind up at some point in every party sitting on the fourth or fifth step of the staircase where he could scope out the crowd. Joe could see which ladies he would ask to dance or what buddy had just arrived or which neighbor was having a good time or which drunken guest was causing a problem or telling a funny story.

Joe eyed Philip Bartlett and for a second the smile slid off his face. Joe was still not sure what to make of what had happened between him and Phil over Emily O’Mara.  He knew he had to settle it all and make peace before they all went back east for the wedding. Kate had told him that he had better as Emily can’t have the groom and the best man getting into a fistfight in the middle of the church.

Glancing about the room, Bonnie Newkirk noticed Joe across the way on the far side of the room. Young Sam Cartwright was sitting with Joe on the steps gobbling down some pie, his uncle’s arm draped affectionately over the ten year old’s shoulders as the boy told him something. Joe threw back his head and laughed heartily. In a flash, the boy playfully shoved a cookie into his uncle’s open mouth. Joe glanced up and saw Bonnie standing near the doorway.

Their eyes meeting suddenly, she quickly looked away, noticing a sudden quickening of her pulse. Joe put down his plate on the step next to Sammy and strode quickly over to her.

“Bonnie?” Joe looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. “I didn’t know you were coming back.” He leaned over and gave her a friendly kiss on her cheek and a quick hug.

“I brought the children to visit their grandparents. I finished my teacher certification program and thought it would be a good idea for Buddy and the baby to visit before the snows fell and we went to wherever I can get a job. I thought someone would have told you. Casey especially.”

She had forgotten how really handsome Joe was. The last time she had seen him, his arm was in a cast and he was all smashed up from the fall he had taken breaking a horse and she was grieving widow with a small son and a newborn baby. “How have you been, Joe? How have you been feeling?”

“Oh I’m fine now. Just about perfect, now that I see you.” Joe smiled. His hazel eye flashed with happiness. The past year had hardened the planes in his face and taken some of the soft boyish look he always had and replaced it with the look of a mature man.  He was even more attractive than she remembered.

Bonnie threw back her head and laughed heartily at his remark. The golden highlights in her curly blonde hair reflected the candlelight.

“Look!” Joe grinned and swung his right arm around in a wide circle almost hitting Doc Martin and a statue of a horse on the table next to the physician.

”Joe? What are you doing?” Paul Martin looked over his shoulder at his favorite patient.
 Then, Joe wiggled his fingers to show how he finally was able to move his arm and hand without any difficulty or pain. Paul laughed and said “ Good for you Joe! Now don’t go breaking anything or hitting your doctor.”

“That’s wonderful!” Bonnie caught both of Joseph’s hands in hers and squeezed them affectionately. She didn’t let go. He didn’t pull away either. They stood in the middle of the crowded party holding each other’s hands.  Joe noticed a fluttering dimple in her cheek as she smiled. For a second he had an irresistable urge to touch her there to see what it felt like. A sudden recollection came to him and he began to remember the wonderful feeling of her soft rounded body in his arms. It was so, so very long ago. Joe swallowed and stared at his boyhood friend’s widow. She was even more beautiful than he remembered her being when he and Dean first met her.

“You look wonderful, Bonnie.” Joe murmured staring at her. He was so surprised to see her again. He had been so positive when she went back to Ohio, almost a year earlier that he would never, ever see her again.

Just when he thought everything had finally settled down for him, Joe Cartwright’s life suddenly got extremely complicated all over again.

Chapter 2

As soon as they were free of the boundaries of the yard, the barn and the outbuildings, Joe urged Cochise into a gallop. He knew his father had stood in the doorway watching him ride off. His father would get furious if he saw him riding at such a break neck speed. Joe certainly didn’t want to aggravate his father so he rode out of his father’s view at a sedate pace and made sure he was out of sight before he kicked his heels into Cochise.

Joe felt the need to ride fast, to feel the wind on his face and leave behind what had taken place in the Boston. He chose to ignore any of the aches and twinges he felt in his right hand or the dull throb in his shoulder, as he knew it was just from being inactive too long. He had been given a clean bill of health by all the Boston doctors before he was sent home to the Ponderosa.The sun felt good on his back and he didn’t care that the day was cold. He was finally home and he was never going to leave again. He could never understand how anyone could live in the confines of a city.

Roundup time on the Ponderosa was always hard work, but Joe Cartwright found it exciting He was finally home. He looked out at their large herd with pride. This year could wind up fine after all for the Cartwrights.  It was the largest fall roundup they’d ever had and despite Joe being laid up for most of the year, things had really worked out well for them on the Ponderosa.

Joe could see the men working as he approached. Pa had been right. The strong rain that they had earlier in the summer had left the grazing land greener than normal for this time of year. The stock looked well tended and healthy, they would do well when this herd was sold. He had monitored prices all the time he was back east and Joe knew they were going to do very well.

 Joe smiled with contentment. He wanted to be home for the fall round up and he finally was. When he had felt the worst and most miserable in Boston he used to dream about just this day. Joe would imagine riding Cochise out to the fall roundup and counting the cattle until he finally fell asleep. There were two things that Joe had clung on to like a life raft the entire time he was recovering. The first, was being home for the fall round up and the second was seeing Sam put Hoss’s long johns up the flag pole at the Virginia City School. Sam had missed school opening because of the last round of troubles Flanagan had given them. Joe hoped this didn’t delay his prank too long.

Joe scanned the group of men as they worked and tried to find the one he was looking for. He had to squint his eyes against the bright sun, but still didn’t spot him. Maybe he wasn’t there. Maybe he was chasing a stray or had gone up to the chuck wagon. For an instant Joe’s stomach flip flopped and he hoped Will hadn’t taken off or gotten into some kind of trouble. Will was still not sure if being on the Ponderosa again was a good idea but Joe had been insistent on his coming back home with them.

”You have no place to go. At least give it a chance.  No strings to tie you down if you want to go. “

Both Ben and Joe assured him that if he wasn’t really happy, Will could leave any time he wanted. For a moment, Joe was just afraid that his cousin Will had bolted without even saying good-bye.  Finally Joe spotted him standing near three other men. One of them was leaning over examining the hoof of his horse and the other two were watching. It looked to Joe, from where he was that the bay had pulled up lame and it’s rider was assessing the animal’s injury.

Will was taller than the other two and was wearing the new blue shirt that Kate had bought him as a welcome home gift. When he walked over to his own horse he limped, and had less of a swagger than Joe remembered from years earlier. Will always strutted like he was defying anyone to tell him he wasn’t totally in charge of his own fate. Guess he learned that he wasn’t and hadn’t been since he has he hooked up with Laura Dayton. Joe missed that swagger in his cousin. Maybe he would get it back being with the family on the Ponderosa.

Joe kicked his heels into Cochise and rode toward the cluster of men. “Hey boss! “ Mickey Lawson, one of the younger hands waved. “Good to see you back here!”
A few of the other men greeted Joe warmly and welcomed him back. “Having trouble with that horse?”
”No sir, Mr. Cartwright. Just had a stone bruise in that hoof the other day and we was just checked it out to make sure we weren’t riding her too hard.”

A new very young hand called him “Mr. Cartwright” and Joe wasn’t sure he how he felt about it. “Boss” and “Mr. Cartwright” were usually what the men called his father or Adam. Not him. Not Joe Cartwright. For years he was called Little Joe and Boy and Kid and got into more arguments and fistfights when someone called him a child or told him his was too young to do something.

It seemed like over night people saw him as Mr. Cartwright and the boss. Joe was really beginning to do more of running the place and many of the newer men didn’t even know Adam or even Hoss. Maybe they were right. Joe took off his hat and scratched his head.
Will rode over and smiled warmly at Joe. He put his finger to the brim of his hat and smiled. “How do you like the herd, Mr Boss, sir? Got ‘em all moved down and it’s not even mid day, Mr. Cartwright, Boss sir.” As usual, Will picked right up on Joe’s thoughts. He gave Joe a wink.

“You look like you belong here Cousin. How are you holding up?” Joe leaned forward in his saddle.
”About as good as you are, Joe. Guess we both need to get used to riding around all day. You sure look glad to be home.”

“There were times the last few months in Boston, I never thought I would get here.”
”Joe, there were times in Boston I was sure the only place I would go was to the gallows.”

Chapter 3

Joe Cartwright looked at the horse the wrangler had saddled for him. He checked the cinch and swung into the saddle. This horse was not his favorite horse, Cochise nor anything like his pinto. Compared to this sorrel, his pinto had a shorter, altogether stockier build and massively powerful quarters - the ideal cutting and roping horse. This horse, Dancer, was quick but less lively, longer legs and a bit broader and fuller in her chest. She was perfectly suited to the work Joe had her doing today at the breaking corral.

Casey Newkirk, youngest son of the Ponderosa foreman Hays Newkirk, had spent the last two years begging Joe to teach him to break horses. Joe kept telling him he wasn’t big enough or strong enough yet. Finally when Joe returned from months away from the Ponderosa, he came home to find the boy had filled out enough to take on the job. Or at least start to learn how to do what he dreamed of doing. Today was the day Casey had been waiting for since he was eleven years old.

Just as his father and older brothers had taught him, Joe was going to teach Casey. Deputy Dean Newkirk, Casey’s brother had been killed and Joe would take on the job of showing the boy everything he could about horses. Hopefully, the horse Casey would break would wind up as part of a string that Joe had contracted to the cavalry. He would use the profits from that sale to buy some new breeding stock that Fred Thackery was going to auction off before winter in Genoa.

Joe swung easily into the saddle and settled himself, waiting to help Casey mount the other horse. Casey sat on Dancer in front of Joe ready to slide onto the back of the mare. “Ok Casey, take it easy now and when you slide over, get yourself settled in the saddle and then we’ll let her go. Then you hang on the best you can. Don’t forget to use your knees like I told you. You tell us when. You understand?” Joe had his arm around the boy’s waist and spoke calmly into his ear.

Casey nodded. His jaw was set with determination but his lake blue eyes were bright with excitement. Joe was finally back home and teaching him to break horses, just as he had promised. Joe had always kept his promises to him. Casey looked over to Joe and smiled at his boss.

Mick brought the mare into line with them. She was sweating and throwing her head about, snorting and rearing.

Okay, Casey, now just remember, keep a firm hold on the reins, but don't pull to hard or too sharp," Joe instructed.  "Let your body ride with the rhythm of her bucking, and you’ll do just fine.”

“Which way should I lean Joe.”

“ Lean the way the horse is going. Your gut will tell you which way to move. Just take a breath and relax and pay attention to the horse. When you get tossed, try to roll with the impact, Make sure you get away from the horse and just let the men catch her. " Joe added looking down at the angrily fidgeting horse,  " You ready, Casey?"

Casey swallowed hard and nodded, “Yes sir, Joe,” The boy drew a deep breath and settled himself firmly into the saddle, trying to remember all of Joe’s instructions and every minute of every ride he had seen while he had been watching from atop the fence.  He had been looking forward to this for so long, but now that the moment was here he felt more nervous than he could ever remember.  "I’m ready." He swallowed hard.

“You sure, Casey. It’s not too late to hold off and come back in a few years.” Joe teased him. “Your mom can fatten you up a bit more.”
”Joe let me go” Casey’s bright blue eyes looked straight into Little Joe's eyes. Joe helped Casey slide across Dancer to the mare. The horse was already irritated that the men had put a saddle on her back. Now she was further infuriated by the disconcerting addition of a person's weight, however slight, to the already unfamiliar irritation of the saddle cinched around her middle. Suddenly another horse galloped up to the breaking corral.
”Hey Joe! Come quick. Your Pa needs you up at the house right away!” Will Cartwright hollered excitedly. “Your brother is up there with his family and he is spitting thumb tacks. Adam is pretty mad.”

“Joe?” Casey twisted in the saddle. He had been waiting for this moment his whole life and now what?
Joe Cartwright sighed and squeezed Casey’s shoulder. “Casey, when ever you are ready. You slide right over and ride. Just like I told you, when ever you are ready.” Casey could feel Joe’s breath on his neck as he exhaled. “Mr. Adam will just have to wait for you to ride.”
The boy nodded his head and smiled.

“Hey Joe! Your Pa said to come up quick, now, not dinner time!”

Joe waved his hand. “He’ll just need to wait a few more minutes!” Joe shouted to Will. What ever it was could wait three more minutes. He had promised Casey and he owed it to the boy. Three more minutes and then Joe would follow Will up to the house. How long was Casey able to hang on to the horse the first time. Three minutes at most.
Casey slid over to the other horse and settled himself in. Joe could see the boy settle into the saddle. His pale blue eyes, so like Dean’s and his father’s shining excitement.

Cartwright nodded to the wrangler to release the horse. "All right, then.  Hang on tight, Casey. Mick, let the horse go!"

 Joe held his breath as he watched. The horse gave a small warning hop. The horse snorted and blew as she reared and kicked hard and tried to dislodge the boy from her back. For an instant Joe held his breath and wished he were riding instead of Casey. In his heart, Joe knew that would be totally fool hardy. He would have to settle for watching from the sidelines for a while longer.

The bronc took off with Casey hanging tight. The sorrel reared and kicked, galloped and stomped, doing her best to dislodge the blonde haired boy.  Casey hung on for all he was worth, feeling his teeth knock together and his stomach lurch every time the horse leaped into the air and came down again. The grin never left his face.

Hoots and whistles and encouraging cheers rose up from the assembled men “Go Casey!” Will hollered from the back of his horse. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled a shrill blast that reverberated across the corral.
”Hang on, boy!” Joe cheered. The boy was going to do fine, better than Joe anticipated.

. Finally, with great kick and a toss of her head, the horse bucked and Casey lost his grip on both reins and saddle as his feet flew out of the stirrups.  The boy was thrown high over the horse’s neck. Casey remembering everything Joe had told him. He rolled as he hit the dusty ground with a thud. 

Hands reached to pick him up at once, dusting him off and inquiring as whether he was all right.  Joe jumped off his horse and ran over to help Casey up.

Seeing that Casey was unhurt, though a little shaken up, Joe Cartwright patted him on the back and hugged the boy around the shoulders. “You did mighty fine, Casey. Mighty fine. Even better than I did the first time!”Joe said proudly.

“Joe, your Pa said right away!” Will reminded him from the back of his horse on the side of the corral. “Pronto! Before Adam comes hunting you down!”

 

Chapter 4

Joe walked into the front door and tossed his hat on the rack.” Is everything all right? Will said you wanted me up here. Casey was about to ride that horse I’m gentling and I just let him finish. Sammy you should have seen him go!” Joe grinned proudly. Then he saw how angry his brother looked and he abruptly stopped talking.

“Joe, you know I try not to get involved with any disagreements between my sons…”Ben slowly started apologizing. He sat in his leather chair near the stone fireplace. Ben looked at Adam who was leaning against the heavy wood mantle. Adam’s jaw was clenched and it was apparent that he was furious. He stared at Joseph with angry dark eyes.

“And I certainly try to steer clear of any disagreements that you have with your wife,” Ben looked at Adam who glared back at his father and then at Joe.

Sam was sitting on the settee with his back to Joe. Something was very wrong as the boy was sitting with his head down and hadn’t looked up when Joe and Will walked in the front door. Joe unbuckled his gun belt and coiled it up on the hallway console and flipped his hat on the rack near the door. He looked over at Will who was slowly putting his gear away.

“Don’t look at me Joe. I have no idea what’s going on here. I just came up for dinner and Ben sent me down to get you pronto.” He shrugged and walked into the dining room. He suddenly became extremely interested in selecting an apple from the fruit bowl on the sideboard.

“Where’s Katie? Is everything all right with the baby?” Joe walked in and sat down on the settee next to Sam. The boy still didn’t greet him and when he looked up for a minute Joe could see his eyes were all red rimmed and he looked miserable.

“Adam? Pa? Is the baby all right?”

“Elizabeth is fine.” Adam spit out.

“And Katie? Where is Katie?” Joe started to stand up and face his father.
”Calm down, Joe. Kate and the baby are fine. Kate took her upstairs to change her diaper.”
”So, what is all this about that I need to come up here before I’m done working?”
”Pronto.” Will muttered from the dining room biting loudly into the apple he had selected.

“Joe, you know how we both agreed to let Adam and Kate have their say with raising their children… “ Ben started calmly,

Adam couldn’t wait until his father finished.” You know that Sam’s education is extremely important to me Joe. You know that! And good manners. You knew that I was just appointed to the Virginia City school board. What the is wrong with you?” He raged.
Joe still had no clue as to what was going on and what his brother was ranting about.

“You and Kate! The two of you. She’s a married woman with two children, Joe! What the hell was on your mind?”
Joe’s jaw dropped. Was his brother accusing him of some sort of improper behavior with his wife? Kate was his childhood friend and like a sister to him. Kate was crazy for Adam and would never think to even look at anyone else.

“Er Adam. Calm down. What are you talking about?”
”Did you know Sam just got expelled from school? Did you? Sam Cartwright! My son! Not yours, little brother! The boy is expelled for school and I am on the school board! Do you know how humiliating this is to me?” Adam raged. His face was red and Joe expected smoke to come out of his ears.

Joe turned and looked at Sam. “Sammy? Are you all right?” Joe put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.” Adam what are you talking about?” Joe still couldn’t figure out what could possibly have happened.
Adam bent over and picked up a burlap sack. “This! Joseph! This!” Adam reached into the sack and dramatically pulled out a huge red piece of flannel fabric. “This!” Adam Cartwright raised his long arms over his head and the red flannel fabric rolled out of his hands just as Kate came to the top of the stairs holding the sleeping baby against her shoulder. She walked down quickly with a big, wide, grin on her face. She clearly was struggling not to laugh out loud.

The red flannel furled out like a flag, a first day of school flag.

“Hoss’s long johns!” Joe laughed. He grabbed little Sam in a bear hug. “ You did it Sammy! You put Uncle Hoss’s drawers up the flag pole!!”

The boy threw his arms around his uncle. “But I got in real bad trouble Uncle Joe!” Joe stood up and swung him around knocking over a dining room chair. The chair fell over backwards hitting the floor with a loud clatter. Will took another bite of the apple, stepped over and picked up the chair.
”Joseph, watch the furniture!” Ben yelled. The clatter of the chair startled the baby and she started to cry.

“And now you woke up the baby!” Adam roared.

“And your hollering at me, you granite headed old coot is not making her go back to sleep!” Joe plopped Sam back on the settee and sat down next to his nephew. He leaned back and put his feet up on the low table in front of the settee.
”Joseph, get your feet off the furniture,” Ben muttered but he was drowned out by the cries of the baby.

Kate attempted to sooth Elizabeth but had no success. Ben gently pulled the wailing infant out of Kate’s arms, hugged her close to him and patted her back in a steady, experienced rhythm. She immediately stopped crying and went back to sleep in her grandfather’s arms. Ben shot Adam a look that spoke volumes.

Kate could stay quiet any longer. She stood toe to toe with Adam and pulled the long johns from his hands. Kate took the garment and reaching high over her head shook it out like a picnic blanket. One leg swung wildly hitting Adam’s nose. She meticulously folded it into a neat rectangle and put it in the middle of the low table in front of the settee. Turning to face her husband who stood a foot taller Kate smiled “ He is not expelled Mr. Adam Cartwright of the School Board Cartwrights. Sam is suspended for three days. I’ll just take him to work with me at the Enterprise. And you, Adam Cartwright, have no sense of humor nor a sense of tradition.” She winked at Joe, and went over to Ben and kissed his cheek. Then she walked into the kitchen to see how much longer it would take for dinner to be ready.

“Looks like she told you, Older brother.” Joe threw back his head and laughed uncontrollably as his brother angrily jammed the neatly folded long underwear into the burlap sack. “ No sense of humor? No sense of humor? Do you think this is funny?”
Kate stuck her head back into the room. “I certainly do, Adam Cartwright! And you have no sense of tradition either!” She hollered from the other side of the house.
”What kind of tradition?” Will had remained silent for as long as he could manage. He took the last bite out of his apple and tossed the core into the blazing fire. It sizzled and crackled like Adam’s temper.

Adam glared at him as the burlap bag tipped over and fell onto the floor at Joe’s feet dumping the long johns out.

“Ben, I guess I better go water those horses before dinner.” Will figured that he better just get out of the house and let Adam and Joe fight out whatever they needed to settle.
Ben grinned and kissed Elizabeth’s soft cheek, “Maybe Elizabeth and I will go along with you.” He started to walk to the door where Will was already getting his hat off the rack.
”What tradition? Joe getting kicked out of school? Do you think I want a two generation Cartwright tradition of rascals Cartwrights being kicked out of the Virginia City school?” Adam was furious.

“No, a Wallace tradition! The long johns on the flagpole the first day of school, Mr. “No Sense of Humor”! Hoss would have been mighty proud to be remembered like this!” Kate hollered.

Joe laughed even harder. She was so right. Hoss would have loved seeing his enormous one-piece red long johns flapping in the autumn breeze high above the schoolhouse. Especially if the trap door opened and waved in the wind. Joe just loved when Kate out foxed Adam. So did Hoss. He would say, “Look at that little gal give Adam a what for!”

“Semper Ubi, Sub ubi, Pa” Sam Cartwright, the only Latin Scholar in the Virginia City School house whispered softly.

“What did you say, Sammy.” Ben looked at his contrite oldest grand child. He found the babies blanket and was wrapping her up so he could take her outside to see the horses.

“Just something Adam taught me and I taught Sammy, Pa. It’s the only Latin I know. Right Adam?” Joe was hugging Sam and they were laughing so hard Will and Ben were sure that they would fall off the settee.

“What does it mean, Doc?” Ben smiled realizing Kate had once again bested Adam. He too started laughing.

“Always wear underwear.” Sam grinned his best Little Joe grin at his father who knew he had lost.

Chapter 5

The next night, when Adam Cartwright walked into his house at the end of the day. Kate was sitting in her study writing the editorial for the next edition of the Enterprise and didn’t even look up from her paper to greet him. She assumed Adam was still angry and annoyed. “Let Adam cool down.” She thought to herself. Sammy was still in the Enterprise office sweeping up.

She wasn’t mad at him but was just concentrating on her work. She heard her husband rattling around the large front hall hanging up his coat and gun belt and looking at some mail that she had stacked on the table.

“Dinner will be ready in about a half hour,” she called to him. She needed to put two more sentences down on paper before she lost her train of thought. “I’ll be out in a second.” She wrote down the last sentence and put down her pencil and started to reread what she had written.

The baby started to cry from upstairs and Kate heard Adam’s step on the stairs “I’ll go get her, Katie. You just finish up what you are doing. I bet that Elizabeth grew since yesterday! That baby is getting bigger and bigger right in front of our eyes.”
Kate smiled to herself. “I guess he got over being so mad about being ganged up on by her and Joe and Sam over the long underwear flag and telling him he had no sense of humor.”
She finished her proofreading and put the yellow lined paper into her folder to take down to the Enterprise the next morning. Walking into the hallway, Kate checked her reflection in the hallway mirror and smoothed her hair into place. She really hoped Adam was over his anger and they would have a pleasant evening together.

“Kate! Come quick. I need your help with the baby! She got awful big all of a sudden,” Adam hollered from upstairs. “Come upstairs! I need help right away!” He sounded very alarmed.
Kate dashed up the wide oak staircase and ran down the hall in the fading early fall evening light. Her husband and baby were not in pink and white nursery.

“Kate, we are in here!” Adam called from the master bedroom a few doors down.

Kate threw open the door. In the dim light in the room she saw a monstrous sight. There was a dead body on her bed and her sweet baby’s head was on the dead man’s body. She shrieked in fear as she ran to the bed and scooped up her daughter. The raven-haired baby was perfectly fine and laughed and cooed happily in her mother’s arms.

From behind the door she heard her husband’s baritone laughter.” Who said I have no sense of humor?”  He chuckled. Adam was standing in his stocking feet laughing at her.” Who else has a giant baby in long johns in the bed?”

Adam turned up the lamp and Kate could see he had laid out the huge set of red long johns in the middle of the bed, stuffed the sleeves and legs with towels and pillows. Adam placed the baby comfortably in the middle. His own boots were stuck at the end of the long johns. In the half dark room, the stuffed underwear gave the illusion of a huge baby that was over six feet tall. “Elizabeth knows her Papa has a great sense of humor. Don’t you Elizabeth?”
Adam walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her and hugged her and the baby close to his chest.

“Say it Katie, Adam Cartwright is the funniest man you ever met.”

”Adam Cartwright is a the craziest man in all of Virginia City and if he ever scares me like that again I am going to beat him over the head with … with…” Kate couldn’t think of anything.

Adam pulled her close and gave her the kiss he hadn’t given his wife when he got home. Then he gave her a longer kiss with a heat that told her how happy he was to see her.

”If you ever scare me like that again, Adam Cartwright, I will hit you with the flag pole from the school and hang you up like a flag by the seat of you pants” She kissed him back and pinched the seat of his pants as if she was clipping them to the flag pole.

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