Harmony: Winter
into Spring
It was early as Bridget
made her way to work at Adam Cartwright's house. It was quite dark and the cold
air was heavy and starting to mist. Golden halos surrounded the gas street
lamps. But even at this January predawn hour, the streets of
"Maybe Mrs. Sharkey is right, it does feel like a storm is gathering,"
she thought. Her landlady had insisted that Bridget take a valise with extra
clothes in case she needed to stay with Adam's family until the storm passed.
"I feel it in my bones, Bridget. My hip is acting up somethin' terrible
this morning. We're in for a big storm."
Bridget unlocked the back door and stepped into the toasty kitchen. Hoss had
risen early to greet her. He was putting more wood in the stove and smiled.
"Take off those wet clothes and warm yourself. I've made some coffee. Want
some?"
Bridget put the valise down near the door. She unwound her long scarf,
unbuttoned her coat, and hung them on the peg. She greeted Hoss with a broad
grin. "I'd love some coffee. I stopped and got the papers and some
cinnamon buns." His eyes sparkled as she placed them on the table. The
headlines warned of a storm coming in off the ocean.
"How'd you know I was thinkin' 'bout cinnamon buns this mornin'?" He
put his hand on the small of her back and leaned in to kiss her good morning.
"Now, Hoss Cartwright, don't you think about cinnamon buns every
morning?"
He smiled broadly and chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I do."
They sat happily in each other's company for a few minutes. In the short
several weeks since Hoss had surprised his brother's family for Christmas, he
and Bridget, Adam's young housekeeper, had grown quite fond of each other. They
were kindred spirits. Conversation came easily but they were equally
comfortable to sit quietly before the bustle of the day's activities began. She
warmed her hands around the steaming coffee cup. "I think we're in for a
nor'easter today."
"What's that?"
"Oh, it's a storm coming off the ocean. We do get the deepest snows when
they come that way." She took a sip of coffee and continued. "Mrs.
Sharkey said her arthritis was acting up all night. It's always bad when
there's a storm. She made me bring a valise in case I need to stay here this
evening.”
Hoss winked at her.
"Then I guess I'll pray for snow."
Adam stood in the doorway. "What's this about snow?"
Bridget and Hoss blushed. Hoss quickly picked up the Times and pointed to the
headline. "Bridget was jest sayin' we're due for a nor'easter."
The early morning quiet was shattered as Amy clomped noisily down the stairs.
"Papa! I can't find my yellow ribbon for my hair! Mama won’t help me. She
says she's busy with Jacob. You gotta help me!"
Adam turned to catch her before she entered the kitchen. "Wait a moment,
Miss Bossy. I might be more agreeable about helping you if you use the magic
word."
She frowned and rolled her eyes.
"Temper, Amy," Adam cautioned her gently. "It's on the tip of
your tongue."
She took a deep breath and in a softer tone she asked, "Please,
Papa?"
"I knew you would remember your manners. All right then," he winked
and took her hand. "Let's go upstairs."
"Did you check the tray on top of your dresser?" Bridget asked.
"I put it there after I ironed it yesterday."
"I didn't look there. I'll go check." Amy turned and ran up the
stairs to her room.
"What do ya think that was about?"
"A little sibling rivalry, Hoss." Adam picked up the coffee pot and
poured himself a much appreciated cup of the steaming liquid. "Jacob needs
a lot of attention these days and Amy’s nose is out of joint. I seem to recall
that you weren't always so fond of Joe when you were her age."
Hoss chuckled softly. "Yeah, I might have tipped his cradle once or
twice."
"I'll have to spend some extra time with her," Adam said shaking his
head.
"Won't be hard. With the way the sky is lookin' we'll be stayin’ put for a
while."
Sara entered with a wriggling, impatient Jacob in her arms. "Morning. It
seems both of our children woke up on the wrong side of the bed today."
She plopped down on the empty chair next to Hoss. "Is there enough coffee
for me? I surely need it this morning."
Hoss poured her a cup and took charge of his fussy nephew. "Dang storm
movin’ in is makin' these children moody."
Bridget smiled as she watched Hoss feed the baby some cinnamon bun. Jacob's
eyes widened and he grabbed his uncle's hand for more. "You have a way
with him, Hoss." She stood and put on her apron. "Now, scrambled eggs
or pancakes?"
"I think eggs, please, Bridget. And thanks for the buns," Sara
answered between nibbles.
The wind howled and blew from all directions. The rain quickly turned to sleet
and sounded like a million pins tapping the glass as it hit the windows.
"We should go out there and clear the ice when it turns to snow, Hoss.
Otherwise we'll be ice skating our way down the stoop when it stops."
"Yeah, yer right. And we should shovel Mrs. Lacey's stoop as well. Can’t
have her falling. She's liable to break her hip if we don't."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As the storm moved in
the winds picked up and the sleet turned to snow. Adam retrieved shovels,
oilcloth panchos, and a bag of rock salt from the cellar and placed them by the
door. Then he and Hoss bundled up in warm layers and headed out to clear the
ice-plated stoop and sidewalk.
“It’s snowing to beat the band, ain’t it? It’s gonna cover up all our work real
fast.”
“It’s best to rid ourselves of the slush before it freezes. It’ll make it
easier when we shovel the snow later.”
Hoss nodded in agreement and started to clear the stairs.
A few minutes later the
Adam stood and waved to his neighbor across the street.
“The girls want Amy to come over. They’re planning some sort of dolls’ tea
party. They said something about Molly?”
Adam grinned and shouted back, “I’ll bring her over after I clear the way.” He
noted that James was still wearing a sling after a fall on New Year’s Day.
“How’s your arm?”
“Aches in this cold weather.”
“We’ll clean your path as well.” He waved and went back to shoveling.
The brothers made short work of clearing the icy slush from both Adam’s house
and that of his elderly next door neighbor, Mrs. Lacey. Anne McKenna, her
grandniece, opened the door to thank them. “Oh, you are heaven sent, Mr.
Cartwright. My aunt would be trapped in here without your help. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Miss McKenna. We’ll be over to clean the path when the storm
is over. Now get back in the house before you freeze.”
Adam slapped Hoss on the back and suggested that they go inside and warm up
before clearing the way to the
Sara entered the hallway holding Jacob. “Get out of those wet clothes and have something
warm to drink.”
Adam shook his head. “Go ahead, Hoss, I’ll finish. Amy, the
Sara and Adam Exchanged relieved smiles. Playing with the girls would sweeten
Amy’s mood. The girls were a little older than Amy and loved to dote on her.
Clearing the
“Go get your doll and bundle up real warm. I’ll carry you over.”
Amy ran up the stairs and was down in a flash. As Sara dressed her in her heavy
woolen coat and scarves she instructed her daughter, “Now you make sure that
you thank Mr. and Mrs. Marshall and that you behave yourself.”
“I will.”
“And don’t be bossy.”
“I won’t.”
“And have a good time,” Sara said before she kissed Amy’s cheek.
With Amy wrapped around him and a shovel in his hand, Adam made his way across
the street. Amy rang the bell and Hanna opened the door reaching out to pull
Amy inside. “Thanks, Mr. Cartwright!”
“I’ll be back to pick you up at four o’clock, Amy.”
“Thank you, Papa!”
Adam quickly finished the stoop and found a bag of salt at the doorway. He
salted the stairs and made his way home.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After lunch, Hoss and
Adam sat in the parlor near the fireplace. The wind wailed outside and the snow
swirled from every direction.
“Hey Adam, you see this?” Hoss asked as he read the paper.
“What’s that, Hoss?” Sara asked as she and Bridget entered the room.
“It says that Mark Twain is here in
Adam frowned.
“You know Mark Twain, dear?”
“I had some encounters with Sam Clemens who called himself Josh Billings then.”
“Yep, Sara. He done tangled with big brother here. Hey, Adam, maybe that’s why
he changed his name again. So’s he could hide from ya.” Hoss winked at Sara and
guffawed. “Mark Twain. Funny kinda name.”
“It’s his nom de plume,” Sara said.
“What?”
“His pen name, Hoss.”
“I know that name,” Bridget said.
“Have you read his stories, Bridget?”
“No, but I’ve seen it somewhere. I can’t remember right now.”
“Do ya think we’ll run into him, Adam?”
Adam shook his head. “
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
All afternoon the storm raged fiercely. The wind howled and the snow pelted
against the windows. It accumulated at a rate of an inch an hour. At four Adam
made his way across the street to fetch Amy. James opened the door and he
stepped into the welcoming household.
"Thank you, James. How was she?"
"An angel," he answered. Adam raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Well,
none of them is an angel but they played well and had a great time."
"I can tell you, we appreciated the peace and quiet this afternoon. Jacob
is invading her territory as he grows and she is not happy about that."
"That's natural, Adam. She'll be fiercely loyal to him as well. Take it
from me. Hanna was just the same when Emma was born."
Adam nodded. "Well, it's time to head back."
The girls came downstairs, dolls in hand. They made a dramatic show of hugging
and leave-taking. Jane Marshall helped Amy with her coat and scarves and Adam
gathered her in his arms.
"Let's go, sweetie."
"Thank you, Mrs. Marshall. Thank you, Mr. Marshall. I had a wonderful
time."
"When the storm ends, you girls should come over to build a snowman."
Adam looked outside and added, "maybe a whole snow family."
"We'll be sure to send them over," James added enthusiastically.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There must have been
some magic in the tea that the girls served their dolls that afternoon. Amy
came home acting as sweet as pie. She happily practiced her scales on the
piano. She set the table without complaint. She even played pat-a-cake with her
little brother.
After dinner Hoss challenged Amy to a checkers game. She set up the board on
the low table by the settee and they began. She was concentrating on her next
move when Jacob crawled over to the edge of the table and pulled himself up.
Before any of the adults could catch him he stepped away from the table and
walked toward Amy. Unsure of his footing he over-balanced and knocked the
checkerboard from the table.
But before Amy could react, Hoss was shouting. "Did ya see that? He's
walking!"
Sara crouched down and steadied Jacob. He faced Amy and took a step toward her.
Jacob laughed. He swayed and reeled like a drunken sailor and made his way
toward his sister. "Catch him, Amy!"
She held her arms out and caught him in a hug.
"That's right, sweetie. Now point him towards Papa."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sara was the last to ready for bed that night. She kissed her children good
night and made her way downstairs to see that Bridget was settled comfortably
in the parlor. “I’m sorry we don’t have an extra bed for you.”
“That’s fine, Mrs. Sara. I’ve slept plenty rougher than this. I’ll be fine. The
fire is cozy.”
Sara took a long soothing bath. She wrapped herself in her woolen robe and
padded her way to her bedroom. The sound of Hoss snoring came from down the
hallway. She would miss him when he had to leave. The whole family loved his
company.
The gaslight was turned down low and the bedroom was dim when she entered. The
wind was howling and it continued to beat the snow against the window. In a
curious way the storm made the room cozier. Adam lay on his back, his eyes
closed and his right arm cradling his head. Sara placed her robe at the foot of
the bed and climbed in. She leaned over to kiss his lips and whispered, “Good
night, sweetheart.” She turned to settle for sleep.
Adam rolled on his side and reached his arm around her, pulling her closer. His
shoulder was sore and he winced before he asked, “Where do you think you’re
goin’, darlin’?”
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Not quite.”
“Your back bothering you?”
“There’s a twinge between my shoulders.”
“Roll over, I’ll massage it for you.”
He obeyed and groaned with the effort. She straddled his hips and leaned
forward to start rubbing and kneading the nape of his neck. With a firm but
gentle circular motion, she worked her way down to his shoulders and then
between them, warming his sore muscles and coaxing the ache from them. They
chatted casually about the day, the snow and Jacob's first steps."
"Did you see how he wanted to run?" Sara asked.
"Once he starts, I'm afraid he'll never stop. That boy is a perpetual
motion machine."
"Poor Amy. He follows her like a little duckling. He adores her."
"Maybe we should consider giving her a room of her own. We could renovate
the attic and make a room for a housekeeper and one for her."
"Oh Adam, I don't think I want her on another floor yet."
"We could move her into your sewing room and make a space for you
upstairs. It's sunny up there and you could have some privacy when you need
it."
"That's a good idea." She smiled at the thought. "We really are
going to lose Bridget to Hoss, aren't we?"
"Oh yeah. Just watch them a minute and you see that they are falling in
love. It seems the most natural conclusion."
"You Cartwrights are a puzzle. Lifelong bachelors and then you fall in
love so fast and deeply."
"Speaking for myself, dear, it just takes the right woman."
"The Ponderosa is never going to be the same."
"I hope so, Sara. A woman's touch will be good for everyone there. And
children, I hope there are lots of children." He sighed as she continued
to massage his back. “Sara, you have a magic touch. Did I ever tell you that?
She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Every time I give you a back rub,
sweetie.”
His low soft laughter reverberated. “Well, it’s true, every time.”
She shivered slightly in the chilly room. “It’s cold in here.”
“I can fix that.” He turned over on his back and bent his knees. Then he guided
her to straddle him and lean back. He lifted the nightgown over her head and
began to caress her.
“I said that I was cold.” She teased.
“I have my ways to warm you,” he assured her. With that he reached for her,
resting her torso on his, and held her tightly in his arms. His body warmed
hers. Her head rested on his chest and she listened to the strong steady
heartbeat.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The storm ended in the
early hour past midnight. The wind died down and all was still. The normally
bustling city was silent and blanketed in two feet of snow. In the morning Adam
stood at the frosted window and blew on it until he created a peephole. He
gazed out at the scene. The day had dawned clear with azure blue skies and the
snow sparkled in the bright sun.
Sara stirred and woke surprised by the brightness of the dawn. She stretched
and asked, "What time is it, dear?"
"It's just after eight."
"Oh my gosh! How could we sleep so late?"
"Don't worry. Bridget and Hoss must have taken care of the children."
He walked to the bed and tossed his robe aside. He climbed in beside Sara and
kissed her warmly. "Morning, sweetheart."
She returned the kiss and said softly, "We should get up."
He took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. "There's no hurry.
What's another half hour when we've slept this late?"
She smiled mischievously. "Is the key in the door? We don't want any
visitors."
Adam nodded and rose to lock the door. He turned and winked at her. She leaned
back on the pillows and watched him saunter back to the bed. She thought,
“Two years. We’ve been married two years last week and he still takes my
breath away.” She smiled back.
"We'll pay for this
later today, you know."
"Maybe." He climbed back into the bed and pulled her toward him.
"Let's just enjoy this rare morning."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
An hour later they made their way down the back stairs leading directly into
the kitchen. They could hear Jacob beating a spoon on the high chair tray and
babbling an emphatic "speech". Hoss was sitting at the table drinking
a cup of coffee. Bridget was serving pancakes to a young boy, wrapped tightly
in a blanket. Adam looked at his brother with a raised eyebrow.
"Mornin', sleepy heads. This here is Tony Lucca. He knocked on the door
early this mornin' lookin' to shovel yer snow for a nickel."
"I see," Adam said. He looked at the flushed and dirty face of boy
who looked about eight years old, just a little older than Amy. The streets of
"Well, he's a great little worker. We shoveled your stoop. Ya owe him a
dime, Adam."
"That's double what he asked." Adam winked at his brother.
"He done a great job. I promised a bonus. And we done Mrs. Lacey's house
and she gave him a dime."
"Well, that seems to be the going rate then."
"And the
"James is generous this morning."
"Yes, sir!" the boy piped up between bites. "But Mr. Hoss, here,
promised me breakfast."
"More than that. His clothes was all wet and I thought maybe there's
somethin' in that box ya have for the children's society, Sara."
She nodded. "After breakfast I'll look." She looked at the boy's thin
shoulders peeking out from the blanket. "I think I can find some clothes
that will fit Tony. And maybe he'd like a nice warm bath as well."
Hoss winked at the boy who beamed back. "See I told ya, son."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bridget drew a bath and
Hoss led the boy up the backstairs. “Let’s do somethin’ ‘bout them taters
growin’ in yer ears!”
Amy laughed at her uncle’s playful teasing. Adam pulled her toward him and
hugged her. “Now sweetie, Tony is a guest in our house today. I want you to be
very nice to him. He’s not as lucky as you are and maybe won’t be used to our
ways.”
“I promise. Can I ask him to play checkers?”
“I think that would be good, Amy. Why don’t you go set up the board?”
Adam looked at Sara and shook his head. “Hoss has always had a big heart for
the downtrodden, whether a puppy with a sore paw or a drunk with a sob story.”
“Tony is neither of those, Mr. Adam. His ma died just before Christmas and he
hasn’t anyone else in the world,” Bridget explained. “He’s been with a rough
group of boys ever since, scrounging for whatever he can.”
“We’ll do our best for him.” Sara said. “Adam, will you bring up the box from
the cellar? Let’s see what I have that might fit him.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A short while later Hoss knocked softly on the door to Adam’s study. “Adam, I
got a real tired boy here. I was wonderin’ if he could sleep on the settee in
here.”
Hoss settled Tony and pulled a blanket over his shoulders. In minutes the boy
was fast asleep. “I guess with the snow shovelin’ and big breakfast and hot
bath, he’s jest plumb worn out. He might sleep most of the day away.”
“He probably needs it. He's safe and warm here." Adam said. "What’s
your plan, Hoss?”
“I’ve been to that Children’s Aid place with Sara. I was thinkin’ maybe Tony
could be a newsboy and stay there and get some schoolin’, too. He ain’t lazy,
he works hard.” Hoss turned to face the boy and then back to address his
brother. “No little kid should be on the street and alone, Adam. That Society
place is close so I can see if he’s okay while I’m here.”
“That’s a good plan, Hoss.” Adam put his arm around his brother’s generous
shoulders. The hardships each had known at Tony’s age went unspoken between
them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The tantalizing aroma of
apple pie baking finally roused Tony hours later. Adam was working on a
lecture and looked up to see the boy waking. Groggy, he sat up clearly
confused by his surroundings.
“Tony, are you all
right?”
The boy stared
bewilderedly at the tall stranger walking toward him and in a low tentative
voice asked, “Mister Cartwright?”
Adam put his hand on
Tony’s shoulder. “That’s right, son. You’ve had a long rest and
missed lunch. Are you hungry?”
He rubbed the sleep from
his eyes and nodded.
“Well, let’s go fix
that,” Adam said smiling. He led the boy to the kitchen where Bridget and
Hoss were finishing the lunch dishes.
“Well, lookee here, our
little Rip Van Winkle woke up,” Hoss announced as he winked at the boy.
“My name’s Tony.”
Bridget smiled and put
her arm around the boy’s thin shoulders. “Of course, it is, Tony.”
She guided him to the table. “I saved some lunch for you.”
“It’s real good, Tony.
She had ta rassle me ta save ya some,” Hoss said.
Tony’s eyes widened as
he looked at the pair.
“He’s just teasing,”
Bridget said as she placed a steaming bowl of stew at his place.
“Bet you’ve rassled
people fer dinner, though, right?”
Tony nodded as he
brought the spoon to his mouth. Often as not he had one meal a day, and
rarely a hot one. He savored the rich broth.
“There’s plenty more
where that came from,” Bridget assured the boy. She brought a basket of
biscuits from the counter and joined the boy at the table. Hoss sat
opposite them.
“Tony, son, I’m real
glad ya knocked on our door this mornin’. Yer a real good worker.”
The boy smiled between
bites.
“I’m worried ‘bout ya
though. Where do ya live?”
“Don’t live nowhere,
Mister Hoss.”
“Okay, then.
Where’d ya sleep last night in that nasty storm?”
He shrugged his
shoulders.
“C’mon son, ya won’t get
in trouble.”
“Slept in the stable
over ‘cross the way.”
“Ya was real lucky,
Tony. Ya coulda froze out there,” Hoss said shaking his head.
“Ya gonna throw me out?”
“Naw, Can’t do that to a
good kid like ya.” Hoss smiled to reassure the boy.
“Tony,” Bridget put her
hand on his. “Mrs. Sara knows a place where you could be safe and warm
every night and have regular meals. It’s not far from here. Down on lower
Broadway.”
“Do I hafta go
now? It’ll get dark soon.”
“No, no! Yer gonna
stay here tonight. And we’ll talk ta Sara ‘bout the Children’s Aid
Society later.”
Amy wandered in to the
kitchen. “Uncle Hoss? Can you play checkers with me?”
“That’s a great idea,
Button. How ‘bout we teach Tony here how ta play?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At dinner that night,
everyone gathered together. An extra place had been set for Tony.
Amy led grace and then asked, “Papa, can we make a snowman tomorrow?”
“Maybe, if the weather’s
a little warmer. It was just too cold today for little girls,” Adam
replied.
“And boys,” Hoss added
as he looked at Tony. “It feels good to be warm and inside, don’t it
Tony?” The boy nodded in agreement.
“Too cold for the likes
of me,” Bridget added. “’Though tomorrow I think I can make it home.”
“Maybe I’ll see ya home
in one of them fancy sleighs with the bells jingling. They sure looked
pretty all day.”
“Oh Hoss, that would be
splendid!”
“Can I come?” Amy
pleaded.
“Not this time,
sweetie,” Sara answered, reasoning that Hoss and Bridget would enjoy the
privacy. “Bridget, why don’t you take the afternoon off tomorrow?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Sara.”
“We owe you that much at
least for staying during the storm. Why not take next weekend?”
“Oh, I could visit my
aunt in
“Did ya see in the
newspaper that the river iced over in the storm? People was walking over to
“Maybe we should go see
that, Amy,” Adam suggested.
“Can we ride a sleigh to
the river?”
Adam smiled at
Sara. Once their daughter latched on to a notion she didn’t let go
easily. “I think we’ll just take the horse-car downtown, that’s an adventure
in itself.”
“Can we have chestnuts?”
“We’ll see, Miss
Greedy,” he said with a smile.
Tony sat quietly
observing the family and listening to their affectionate banter.
“Tony? Son?”
He was startled.
“Yer a miles away,” Hoss
gently teased. “Do ya want some mashed potatoes?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The children were all
bedded down and asleep when the adults engaged in deep conversation in hushed
tones in the parlor.
“Hoss, you’ve got a
heart as big as the prairie sky, but he’s a little boy not a puppy. You
can’t just hug him and make it all better over night.”
“Heck, Adam, I know
that,” Hoss objected.
“He may have relatives
out there that he’s not telling us about.”
“I doubt that, Adam.
He was out in that storm all by hisself.”
“He might be afraid of
something worse than being alone,” Sara said as she placed her hand over her
husband’s. “He may have run away from his family.” She sighed and
continued. “Maybe he doesn’t want to know his father is cruel.
Maybe they sent him out to work.”
“So ya still think I
should take him to the Society?”
“I do, Hoss.
Doctor Brace will give him a safe place to stay. He’ll find out Tony’s
story,” she promised her gentle brother-in-law, “and if he thinks it is best,
he’ll find a family for the boy.”
“They do that? They
find families for kids like Tony?”
She nodded.
“Sometimes here, mostly out in
“Bridget, ya think it’s
a good idea?”
“I do, Hoss, for
now.” She reassured him. “You can take him tomorrow and we can
visit him on Sunday to make sure he is settled.”
“Maybe we can take him
to the circus, I bet he’d like that.”
“I’m sure that he would,
as long as we get him back for services that night.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the dim light from
the street lamp, Hoss stood in Adam’s study watching Tony sleeping. The
boy’s face was relaxed and his breathing was calm and deep. “Poor little
guy,” Hoss muttered softly. “Who knows what ya’ve been up against and
what’s ahead of ya now. But I guarantee ya, yer not gonna on the streets
again, I’ll make sure ya have a home.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning after a
warm breakfast, Sara, Hoss and Tony rode the omnibus to the Newsboys’
Lodging. There they met with the matron, Mrs. Cookson, a plain faced
woman with a kind smile. The place was clean and orderly but deceptively
quiet. The matron explained, “They’re all out at this time of day, but
mark my word, it’ll be full tonight.”
She showed them the
dormitory floor with rows of iron bunk beds. The walls were white washed
and the beds neatly made. The bathroom was also clean. The meal
room doubled as a classroom after dinner. A blackboard was hung on the
wall and the Bible verse “Thy children like olive plants round about thy table”
was written in a neat hand.
“Now, young man, have
you sold newspapers before?”
“I helped,” Tony
answered in a soft voice.
“Well, I’ll see if one
of the older boys will get you started.” She looked at Hoss and added,
“The older ones often help. It’s a brotherhood here. They have no
one else, so they look after one another.”
“Do you have money,
son?”
“Yes’m.” He
fingered the money he’d made shoveling the walks the day before.
“Mrs. Cartwright, would
you take Tony downstairs to the dressing room? Mrs. Ivey is there this
morning. She can help you find some more clothes and some boots for
Tony.”
Sara took his hand and
led the way downstairs. Hoss watched them leave and turned toward
the matron.
“I can buy him some
clothes.”
“Of course you can, Mr.
Cartwright. But we encourage the boys to be self-sufficient and save
their money. It’ll cost Tony six cents a night and three cents for
breakfast and dinner.”
“Can I front him some
money? I wanna make sure he’s okay.”
She smiled and
nodded. She accepted a five dollar coin from Hoss.
“That’ll keep him for a
month or more.”
“No more than that
though, Mr. Cartwright. We’ll see that he saves what he earns.
We’ll keep it for him in our bank.”
“My sister-in-law told
me that you might find a home for Tony.”
“We’ll see how it goes,
Mr. Cartwright. But often we do find homes for the boys.”
“Can I come see him on
Sunday?”
“That would be
fine. Come in the late morning. The boys can enjoy a bit of a lie
in on Sunday mornings before services.”
Hoss looked puzzled.
“Unless there is an
“extra”, there are no newspapers on Sundays,” she explained. “Mr.
Cartwright, the boy will be fine. We’ll take good care of him here.”
“I know, Mrs. Cookson,
jest he’s so little and so alone.”
“We have younger boys
than Tony and by tonight he won’t be alone at all. I’ll spend the day
with him today. Not to worry about Tony, Mr. Cartwright.”
They made their way
downstairs and they heard Sara and Tony laughing in the dressing
room. Tony was showing off his new boots and a new hat. “How
do I look, Mr. Hoss?”
“Like a right fine
businessman, son.”
The boy beamed.
“Tony, I gotta go
now. Mrs. Cookson’ll take care of ya. Bridget and I’ll be back on
Sunday to see ya. We gotta a surprise for ya.”
Tony nodded and shook
hands with Hoss, who pulled him into a bear hug. “You be good, ya hear?”
On the omnibus ride home
Sara and Hoss rode silently, each lost in thought. They alighted at
“He’s a tough little
guy, ain’t he?”
“He has a lot of grit,”
she agreed. “When I think that he is so near in age to Amy, my heart
breaks. ‘There but for fortune’.”
“He’s a bit like Adam
when he was little. We had Pa ta love us but Adam took care of us,
too. Not much time for games when he was growin’ up.” He squeezed
Sara’s arm. “He made up for it later. And he sure found happiness
with you.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hoss left with Bridget
shortly after he and Sara returned. They quickly made their way to her
rooming house and dropped off her valise. Then they rode the
horse-car to
“I’ve never seen so much
snow. It’s beautiful.”
“Oh darlin’ we get
plenty more snow than this at the Ponderosa.”
“Do you have a sleigh?”
“Sure.”
“With bells?”
“No, no bells on it.” He
shook his head. Her face fell a little. “But I can get some here, I
s’pose, if ya like ‘em.”
The driver jingled the
bells and Bridget’s bright laugh answered them. Hoss smiled broadly, his
eyes glistening. There was no more beautiful sound than her laughter he
thought. No more beautiful girl for him. He squeezed her hand, and
resolved that he would buy the bells and have her love by the end of his visit.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The temperature was
still cold but it crept above twenty degrees and the snow was
shining. Adam assented to inviting the
Hours later the girls
teeth were chattering as they put a corncob pipe in the snowman’s mouth and
rakishly placed an old straw hat on his head.
“There, Mr. Cartwright,”
Hanna said as she stood back to admire their work. “We’re done!
What do you think?”
“I think, Hanna, that
you girls made the best snowman I’ve ever seen.”
“Me, too,” she
agreed. “Now let’s have cocoa!”
“Me, too,” Emma and Amy
piped in.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That night only Adam’s
little family sat at the table. Hoss was still out, no doubt having
dinner with Bridget. Tony was having his first meal at the Newsboys’
Lodging House.
“Mama, do you think Tony
is lonely tonight?”
“Oh sweetie, I think
Tony is fine. There is a nice big dining room and lots of boys will be
there to keep him company.”
“But he doesn’t know
them.”
“Amy, you made friends
with him very quickly,” Adam said. “I bet he’ll have some friends by the
end of the night.”
“Will he go to school?”
“There is a classroom
there.”
“Do they have checkers?”
“I saw some boards
there, yes.”
“That’s good. He
can play checkers with some boys.”
Sara looked at Adam and
he winked. She thought a moment about the comparison between Adam and
Tony that Hoss had made earlier. His sometimes stoic exterior hid
the sorrows he’d had as a child. She smiled back, grateful for Hoss’s
other observation, that her husband had found his peace and happiness in his
family.
True to her word, Mrs.
Cookson kept Tony by her side most of the day. When the boys started to
return to their lodgings late in the afternoon she introduced him to Nico
Grasso. Nico was an older boy of fourteen with deep brown eyes and a
crooked smile. He wore his cap pulled low on his forehead and favored a
bright plaid vest with his brown trousers.
“Sure thing, Mrs. C.,
I’ll take care of the kid. C’mon over here wid me. What’s yer name?”
“Tony Lucca.”
“Italian, huh?
Jest like me. Come sta?
Tony beamed to hear his
mother’s language. “Sto bene.”
Nico put his arm around
the smaller boy. “We can talk Italian ‘tween us, but we’re in New
Yawk. We gotta talk American here. Capisce?”
Tony nodded.
“Okay Tony, I’ll show ya
da ropes. We start t’morrow mornin’. Early.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Well before dawn the
next morning, Nico and Tony headed out to the
Tony nodded and fingered
the two dimes in his pocket.
“Okay, then keep up with
me. Yer gonna be my lucky charm today.”
At the Sun he
handed over his money and got ten papers in return. “Ya sell ‘em at three
cents apiece,” Nico reminded him. Tony grabbed his papers and
eagerly followed the older boy into the street.
Nico quickly glanced at
the headlines and shouted out, “Coldest day yet! Jack Frost bridges the
River! Ice jams
They weren’t out more
than fifteen minutes before they’d sold their stack of papers. They
returned to the newspaper office and Tony bought another five papers.
Nico bought a dozen.
“Let’s head downtown.”
They made their way down
to the Stock Exchange as the carriages with wealthy bankers and businessmen
started to arrive.
Nico changed his
cries. “Rail stocks tank! Down 5 cents a share!” He leaned
down to Tony. “Gotta know da news, kid. Help ya sell
papers.”
They sold their papers
and stopped for hot coffee and doughnuts before heading back to the Sun
by now the second edition was out and Nico was eager to head uptown to the posh
newer hotels.
“We’ll ride the
horse-car. Follow me.” Nico grabbed the back rail of the horse-car
and jumped up. He leaned down to pull Tony into the car. Nico
raced through the car selling papers and avoiding the conductor. They
jumped off as the car slowed at
“The rich swells stay here,
Tony.”
By noon Tony had amassed
enough money for his nightly lodging.
“Like I said to Mrs. C.
this mornin’ yer a good luck charm, Tony. We’ll head back and git the
afternoon papers. But first we gotta get ya warm. Don’t wanna lose
my new pardner on ‘is first day.”
When the boys returned
to the lodging house early that evening, Tony had earned thirty
cents. Mrs. Cookson told him that Hoss had paid his room and
board. “What’ll do with my money?”
“You’ll need it tomorrow
to buy the newspapers, son.”
He put it back in his
pocket. “Is it safe here?”
Nico put his arm around
the boy. “I’ll put it in my locker. It’s safe,” he assured
Tony. “Now let’s eat.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Finally on Wednesday the
record cold spell ended. The temperature rose to 35 degrees and the
snow-covered city stirred in fine fashion again. Railway tracks were cleared
and the trains brought stores of fuel and food stuffs. Hundreds of day laborers
cleared the streets and sidewalks, carting the snow to the rivers to dump. The
streets were crammed with people pushing and scrambling excitedly and returning
to their daily routine. The schools opened and mothers sighed in relief that
their bored children were not underfoot.
Adam walked Amy to school and took the
Adam begged off the invitations having promised to meet Hoss down by City Hall
that afternoon. They were eager to see the ice dams in the
He met Hoss in front of the Sun newspaper offices just north of City
Hall. They crossed the street and walked through the park to Park Row. The Herald,
Times and Express had their offices there.
“Do ya think we’ll see him?” Hoss asked eying the newsboys hovering in the doorways
of the newspaper offices.
“Maybe.”
“Hope he’s okay.”
“Me, too, Hoss,” Adam said quietly.
They crossed Park Row and headed toward Peck’s Slip. There they stood at the
river’s edge taking in the chaos of the harbor. Ice floes crashed with loud groans
as they drifted toward the bay. Crowds swarmed the ferry docks. To Hoss they
looked like a herd stampeding. Brooklynites stranded in
“There’s a plan for a bridge across here,” Adam said. “A man named Roebling
wants to build it. There’s a private corporation forming.”
“Across this river? It’s too far. Looks like a quarter mile shore to shore and
real deep. How’s he gonna do that?”
“He wants to build a "suspension bridge" with towers and cables. The
Dean pulled me aside this morning and gave me the report to study. They’re
gonna have to dig down to the bedrock. They want some mining engineers to look
at the plans.”
“Whew! That’ll be somethin’.”
“You hungry Hoss?”
“Now, Adam, when ain’t I hungry?”
“Let’s get some fresh oysters and fried clams.”
“Now yer talkin’.”
They ate standing at a bar and drank cold beer. Chaos was all around them and
they reveled in it.
“’Sides from yer place, this feels closest ta home.”
Adam laughed and slapped his brother on the back. “C’mon, brother, let’s head
home. We’ve got women waiting for us.”
“Yer right, Adam," Hoss answered beaming. "I gotta woman waitin’ for
me. That sounds real good.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bridget took advantage
of a rare free Saturday to visit her aunt in
The streets were jammed
on a fine sunny Saturday afternoon. The factories and workshops
closed early and with their pockets filled with their weekly pay, workers
crammed the streets shopping for groceries and taking the time to talk to
friends. He heard more brogues in the voices than the accents he heard
across the way in
“Some call it
‘Irishtown,’ Hoss.” They stopped at a bakery to buy a cake for dessert.
“She loves her sweets, maybe too much.”
“There ain’t never too
many sweets, Bridget.”
“You two will get on
well, I can tell.”
She was right.
Hoss and Bridget’s Aunt Mariah warmed to each other quickly. Her face
reddened when she laughed and she laughed often during lunch. Hoss
entertained her with stories about the Ponderosa. She liked his big smile
and broad shoulders and his bright eyes. He was a kind man who would love
her niece with all of his big heart.
After lunch they sat in
the parlor, Hoss and Bridget on the settee, Aunt Mariah in her chair near the
fire.
“Oh Bridget, dear, get
me that paper on my desk will ya? I have a business question to ask
Mr. Cartwright.”
“Ma’am?”
Bridget handed the
newspaper to her aunt who opened it and folded the second page back to reveal
an advertisement. “Here, Mr. Cartwright. What do you
think of this?”
Hoss took the paper and
read an advertisement for Silvercrest Mining Stocks in
“You think it’s a good
investment, Mr. Cartwright?”
“Well, ma’am, I don’t
rightly know. I don’t know who’s behind this mine but I know who would.
My brother has mining maps for the whole area ‘round
“That would be grand, if
you would,” Aunt Mariah said. “Now Bridget would you make a fresh pot of
tea. Mr. Cartwright and I need to do a little discussing alone.”
Bridget squeezed his
hand before she rose and left the room.
“Ma’am?”
“Don’t act too shy,
son. I can see you want to marry my niece.”
Hoss blushed deep
red.
“Don’t worry, you have
my blessing. Just give it a little more time and promise me she’ll stay
‘til your brother goes West this summer.”
“Yes’m.
That’s a promise.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bridget fell asleep on
the ferry back to
“Wake up, darlin’.”
“What?,” she answered
startled as the ferry lurched into the slip.
“The ferry just pulled
in, that’s all.” He squeezed her a moment and helped her up. “Maybe
you should stay home tomorrow. I can take Tony to the circus by
myself.”
She yawned and nodded.
“It’s been a very long week.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hoss made his way down
to the Newsboys’ Lodgings late Sunday morning. Tony ran to him and he
scooped up the boy in a bear hug.
“Ya look happy,
Tony. Ready for lunch and the circus?”
“Mr. Hoss, can we go to
the museum?”
“A museum? Ya
wanna see art?”
Tony
giggled. “Nope, Barnum’s Museum. Nico says they got
lions and tigers and apes.”
“Who’s Nico?”
“My best pal, that’s
who.” He pointed to the older boy lingering in the doorway.
“In that case, does Nico
wanna go too?”
“Sure, mister!” he
answered. “And I know a great place for lunch. Ya hungry?”
“I’m always ready fer a
good meal, son. Get yer coats, boys.”
They rode the
“Ciao, Nico!,” an
elderly woman greeted him with a hug and a kiss. “Chi sono queste
persone?”
“Nuovi amici,
Nonna. Ecco Tony e Mister Hoss.”
“Buon giorno, amici.”
Nico headed to the table
in the window and sat down. “Get comfort’ble gents,” he said. “Sophia, we
want the works.”
A large platter of
spaghetti and meat sauce was quickly served, followed by veal chops and
vegetables and plenty of crusty bread. Hoss’ appetite was famous in
Hoss wiped his mouth
with the red and white checked napkin. “That was mighty good, Nico.”
“Ya skippin’ dessert,
mister?”
“There’s more?” Hoss
asked as he patted his full belly.
“Sure, there’s gelato,
that’s ice cream.”
Hoss smiled and shook
his head. “Ya win, Nico. I can’t eat another bite. I’ll have
me some coffee while yer eatin’ yer dessert.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They made their way
across
Hoss dug in his pocket
and pulled out a dollar. “Now yer money ain’t good here, boys. This
is on me.”
The rest of the
afternoon was spent in macabre and wonderful world of P. T. Barnum. The museum
was crammed with people. Children pulled at their parents’ arms leading
them to the live whale swimming in his tank and the gorilla pounding his
chest. They sat for a show of Apache Indians.
“Ya seen Indians before
Mr. Hoss?”
“Sure, Tony,” Hoss
assured him. “Lotsa of ‘em.”
“Really?”
“Really. My ma was
killed by Indians on the way west.”
“Ya ain’t got a ma
either?”
“No, son.”
“Jest like us,” Tony
said.
They stopped in front of
the mermaid case. There they saw a curious creature with the head of a
small monkey and below the waist it resembled a fish.
“That don’t look right,”
Nico observed. “It don’t look real.”
They laughed and moved
on. They stayed until the museum closed and exited with the crowd
spilling out on Broadway. They crossed the street and stood at the corner
in the soft gaslight from the Metropolitan Hotel.
“Ready ta go
home?”
“We can make our way
home, Mr. Hoss,” Nico said. “It sure was swell today.”
A man leaving the hotel
stopped in his tracks and when he heard Tony add, “Real swell, Mr. Hoss!”
“Hoss?,” the man thought.
“Did I hear that right?” He turned to see Hoss giving a hug to the the
little newsboy.
Hoss turned to face a
familiar face. “Josh, er, I mean, uh, Sam Clemens. No, it's Mark Twain. Is that
you? I told Adam I’d find ya here in
“Hoss Cartwright, you’re about the last person I expected to see here in this
forsaken town. What in tarnation are you doing here?” Sam roared.
“Well, Sam…Mark, shoot what do I call ya?”
“Sam,” he answered. “My friends call me Sam.” He slapped his big friend on the
back. "And I count you as a friend."
“I’m here seein' Adam.”
“Your brother is here?,” Sam asked. That wasn’t entirely good news to him. When
last they saw each other Adam and Sam had parted in what could only be called
an uneasy truce.
“Sure, he’s a perfessor at that mining school at
“That’s news to me.”
“Yeah, well he’s all settled down now. Not so quick to get mad. Got a wife and
kids.”
“No fooling? That’s good to hear. You in a hurry to go somewhere?”
Hoss shook his head.
“C’mon with me then. I’m headed to Pfaff’s. You’re gonna like this place.” Sam
turned north and headed up Broadway to
“That so, Sam?”
“Yep. Hoss, you’re about to breathe the rarified air of
Hoss took a deep breath and said, “Jest smells like a saloon ta me.”
Sam guffawed. “These critics say I exaggerate too much when I write about the
men in the west. You’re gonna prove them wrong.”
For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, Sam and Hoss
entertained the crowd at Pfaff’s Beer Cellar. They drank, told stories, fumed
and rollicked with the regulars. Hoss was there to verify the antics and wild
tales of his friend, that the petrified man was alleged to have been found on
the Ponderosa, that bull frogs out west jumped higher and farther than any in
the east, and that the
Hours later Hoss was startled to see the clock above the bar reading eight
o’clock. “I gotta head home now, Sam. Say, why don’t ya join me?”
“Hoss, I’m not sure your brother would be so pleased if you barged in with me.”
“Yeah, that’s prob’ly true. We’ll give ‘im a day or two. Come ta dinner on
Wednesday. How ‘bout it?”
“You’ll protect me if he comes bearing down on me?”
“Yeah, Sam. He won’t hurt ya none.” Hoss guffawed. “Yer forgiven. He’s on
“You better give him my card, Hoss, in case he’s not happy with the invite. I’m
at the Metropolitan Hotel. You can send word there.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sara opened the door to her tipsy brother-in-law.
“I guess I fergot my key,” Hoss sheepishly apologized.
She smiled and took his arm. “At least you’re home safe.”
“Ya eat yet?”
She nodded. “We fed the children and put them to bed, but we saved for you.”
“Ya didn’t hafta do that.”
Adam poked his head out of his office. His brother’s red nose and awkward gait
amused him. “I see you’ve had an adventure today.”
“Oh Adam, yer never gonna guess who I saw,” Hoss said. “Never, so I’m jest
gonna say. I saw Sam Clemens. Right here in
“An awfully big adventure,” Adam said as he took his brother’s other arm. He
and Sara led Hoss toward the kitchen. “Is there black coffee on the stove,
dear?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Early the next morning Hoss sat drinking hot black coffee in the dimly lit
kitchen. He'd tossed and turned all night. His eyes were red and his head was
spinning as he thought back on the previous day's activities. Maybe it was the
red wine he'd had at Nonna's. Or maybe that he later drank a mix of beers and
whiskeys at Pfaff's. He sat as still as he could and nursed his coffee.
Adam quietly entered and poured himself a cup of coffee. He looked over to his
dejected brother and smiled wryly. "Hair of the day, Hoss?," he asked
as he picked up an opened bottle of wine.
"Dammit, Adam, that ain't funny."
"I suppose it doesn't feel funny, Hoss." Bemused by his brother's
condition, he sat down across from Hoss. "I have to ask…."
"Yeah?"
"Did you really invite Sam Clemens for dinner here?"
Hoss winced and answered reluctantly. "I think I did. Yeah, I did. He gave
me his card. He pulled the card from his shirt pocket." He looked at the
card and handed it to his brother. "Wrote somethin' on the back."
Adam read the note: "Mea culpa, friend." He smirked and shook his
head. "Well, you both better be on your best behavior. Got it, brother of
mine?"
After dinner Bridget and Hoss were alone in the kitchen washing the dishes. It
was the uninterrupted time of day they both enjoyed most, not for the task, but
for the company.
"Hoss, are you feeling well?"
"I'm fine," he answered. In fact he'd been nauseous from his hangover
most of the day.
"It's just that you didn't eat much all day. Dry toast for breakfast, just
soup for lunch and tonight you only had one helping and didn’t finish that.
It's not like you."
"I was just a bit off my feed today. I'm fine." He patted his ample
stomach. “It won’t hurt me none.”
"Hoss Cartwright," she said suddenly. She turned and put her arms
around his generous middle. "You're not on a diet, are you?," she
teased.
"No, darlin’," he said laughing.
She grinned and turned to continue washing. "It's just that your shirts
are getting a little snug over that belly."
"Ya think?"
"I do."
"That'll change when I get back to the Ponderosa. I'll be workin' hard and
I'll lose this gut."
She gave him a skeptical sideways glance.
"Maybe I could do more movin’ around while I'm here. I guess I'll jest
hafta pick ya up in the morning as well as walk ya home at night."
"I'd like that."
As he escorted her home that evening he held her close. They walked in
companionable silence, happy to be together. As they walked near
"Are the stars and the moon as pretty on the Ponderosa?"
"Now, I'm prejudiced mind ya, but I'd say they're prettier out there. The
sky is bigger and there are more stars."
"Do you wish on the stars, Hoss?'
"Nah, not lately, when I was a boy I did."
"What did you wish for?"
"I think I wished for you," he leaned in and kissed her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When he got back to Adam's house, the children were in bed. Adam was finishing
his lecture notes. Hoss found Sara in the parlor knitting a pair of socks. He sat
beside her on the settee.
"Pretty night out there?"
"Yeah, the fresh air did me good. My head's not achin' anymore." Sara
touched her hand to his knee and smiled. "Sara, I need yer advice 'bout
proposin' to Bridget. I want to say the right thing but I'm not good at words
like Adam."
"What do you want to say to her?"
"I wanna say that I love her and want her by my side forever."
"That's all you need to say, Hoss."
"But when Adam asked you to marry him, I bet, he was real romantic
like."
"Not really," she assured him. "In fact he proposed in his
Cousin Jack's kitchen while we did the dishes."
"In the kitchen. Not in some special place?"
"In the kitchen, with a towel wrapped around his waist," she smiled
at the memory of it. "Not very gallant but it didn't matter. I just wanted
to marry him so badly. I was thrilled that he asked me."
"In the kitchen . . . . thanks, Sara." He leaned over to kiss her
forehead. "Those socks ain't for Amy, they're too big. And they're too
small for Adam."
"I figured Tony might need some good thick socks."
"He sure does, Sara. Good night."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sara sat at her vanity rubbing scented cream on her hands when Adam entered. He
took off his robe and tossed it on the foot of the bed. He stood behind her,
his hands resting on her shoulders. He bent down and kissed her behind her ear.
"Don't be too long, Sara." She leaned back against his bare chest and
sighed. Then she reached up to unpin her hair. He took her hands in his and
said, "I'll do that." He pulled out the pins and her hair cascaded to
her waist. Gently, he finger combed it. She smiled at his familiar affectionate
touch. Sara took his hand and kissed it.
"Adam, to bed, my love."
After their lovemaking, Adam held her and they talked.
"Hoss asked me how you proposed to me. I think he's going to ask Bridget
this week."
"Oh yeah. He asked me to go with him to Tiffany's after class
tomorrow."
"You don't think she'll leave with him next month do you?"
"He told me that he promised her aunt that she would travel to the
Ponderosa with us."
"That's good. She needs so many things, a bridal gown, a trousseau, linens
. . . ."
He kissed her and turned to lie on his side. "Yes, dear." She rolled
over and nestled close to him, her bare back against his torso. He pulled her
close and draped a leg over her.
"Good night,
sweetheart."
xxxxxxxxxxx
Hoss was waiting at the
bottom of Bridget’s rooming house stoop at 6:30 the next morning. She
exited hesitantly and called out his name, “Hoss? Is that you?”
“Sure is. Mornin’
darlin’.”
“You scared me. I
guess I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Now Bridget, I said I’d
be pickin’ ya up and walkin’ ya home, didn’t I? Besides, I have somethin’ to
talk to ya about.” He took her arm and they headed west toward
They walked quickly and
the snow crunched beneath their feet. When they got to
“Hold on a minute,
Bridget. I got somethin’ important to say.”
She looked into his blue
eyes. They were misty, though she knew not if it was the cold or emotions
at play. He put his arms around her waist and then quickly looked
to see if anyone was watching.
“Bridget, it’s time I
got around to ask ya to marry me. I can’t think about going home without
knowing ya’ll be my wife and be by my side. I love ya, Bridget. I
ain’t never loved any woman like I love ya.” He took a deep breath and
let it out slowly. “There, I said it.”
It was her turn to
cry. She smiled through tears of joy and nodded. “Yes, Hoss
Cartwright. I will be your wife. I love you, my gentle giant.”
He took her face in his
hands and kissed her. A group of boys started cat calling and they broke
from their embrace.
“I guess we should move
along ‘fore we freeze ta death out here.”
The butcher looked at
the tall burly stranger with a jaundiced eye. “Who’s that with ya, Bridget?,”
he asked as he weighed the lamb chops she’d chosen for dinner.
“My fiancé, Mister
Lawson. This is Hoss Cartwright.”
“Cartwright?
You, Adam Cartwright’s brother?”
“I am.”
“Mister, you hit the
jackpot gettin’ Bridget’s hand. Why if I weren’t married with five
children, I’d be mighty jealous.” The teenage boy behind the counter
rolled his eyes at his father’s statement.
“I need to order a pork
roast for tomorrow. They’ll be five of us.”
Mr. Lawson was holding
his hands out indicating the size of roast to cut. “Is he one of ‘em?”
“Yes.”
He widened the distance
between his hands. “You’ll need a bigger roast then. You want
it delivered tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, please.”
“Bridget?,” he called
out as she and Hoss left the stand, “Congratulations, dear.”
The friendly exchange
was repeated throughout the market. Everyone congratulated the happy
couple as they stopped at the various stands.
At the German bakery,
Anka Strauss, nodded her approval and came around the counter to kiss Bridget.
“Ya take good care of her, mister! She’s a doll and we love her
so.” She eyed Hoss up and down and added, “He’s a good strong man,
Bridget. You’ll have good babies.”
Both Bridget and Hoss
blushed and hurried on home to tell Adam’s family the good news.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sara took a fussy Jacob
down to the kitchen to make some cereal. For the first time in weeks the
room was dark as she entered. Dark and cold. She’d gotten used to
Hoss’ early hours and his morning routine. She’d had the luxury of not
lighting the stove and of finding a hot pot of coffee ready for several
weeks.
Amy wandered in behind
her, shivering. “Why’s it so dark and so cold? And where’s Uncle Hoss?”
Adam followed. He lit
the gas lamp and the stove and warmed his hands near the fire. He pulled
a chair from the table and set it near the stove and sat. “Sit here with
me, Amykins, until the room heats up.” He scooped her up and placed her in his
lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her. “Your Uncle Hoss has other things on
his mind this morning.” Adam winked at Sara.
“Like what?”
“You’ll see,
honey. I’m guessing that he has a surprise for us.”
“Cinnamon buns?”
Sara laughed.
“Maybe, sweetie. Adam, will you take Jacob? I’ll start the coffee.”
Amy slipped off her
father’s lap as Adam reached for the squirming baby. He wrestled with
Jacob a bit and asked Amy to get a teething biscuit for her brother.
She stood on her toes to reach the tin, opened it and handed a
biscuit to Jacob. Suddenly, the kitchen door blew open and a cold breeze swept
in. Bridget and Hoss burst in, all smiles.
“Mornin’
everybody! It sure is cold out there today.”
They placed their market
packages on the counter and began the process of removing the many layers of
scarves and woolens they’d worn to keep warm.
“Did you bring me a
surprise?” Amy asked.
“A surprise, Button?”
“Papa said you have a
surprise for us this morning. Did you bring cinnamon buns?”
Hoss beamed at his
family and took Bridget’s hand in his. “Your papa is right.
I, er, we have a surprise this mornin’. I asked Bridget ta marry me
today.”
She squeezed his
hand. “And I said I would.”
“We’re gettin’ married.”
“Now?,” Amy asked.
“No, Button. I
want Grandpa and Joe to meet Bridget first. We’ll get married in June at
the Ponderosa.”
“But are you going west
with Hoss when he leaves?,” Amy asked Bridget.
“Not yet, my
girl. I’ll go with you after school lets out.”
“Whew!,” Amy sighed
dramatically. “Can I be your flower girl?”
“I was just thinking
you’d be a perfect flower girl, Amy,” Bridget answered, hugging her.
“Finally!” Hannah
Marshall was a flower girl for her aunt’s wedding the previous summer and Amy
was mad with jealousy. Now it was her turn. The little girl grinned
ear to ear.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That afternoon, Hoss
softly knocked on Adam’s opened office door. His brother was seated at
his desk and a young man sat in a chair facing him. Adam looked up
smiling and beckoned his brother. “C’mon in, Hoss. I’d like to
introduce you to Peter Mills. He’s coming with us to
The young man stood and
was taken aback to see his professor’s large and more homespun brother.
He offered his hand and Hoss shook it vigorously.
“Good ta meet ya,
Peter. Ya’ll hafta come out ta the ranch when yer in town,” Hoss
said. With a mischievous grin he added, “We’ll hafta toughen ya up a bit
and put some meat on yer bones.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Just Hoss, son.
Just call me, Hoss.”
Peter excused himself
and Hoss settled in the chair.
“I brung ya somethin’
Bridget’s aunt asked me about.” He pulled out the newspaper ad for the
sale of stock in the Silvercrest Mines in
Adam examined the ad,
noting the requisite hyperbole of the testimonials in the margins, and shook
his head. “It’s new to me. Philip just sent additions for the
mining atlas. I’ll check into it tomorrow. There should be a
listing on the San Francisco Exchange as well.” He looked up at Hoss and
grinned wryly. “Of course, we could just ask the famous Mark Twain at
dinner tomorrow.”
Hoss rolled his
eyes. His dinner invitation to Sam had been spontaneous. Now he
worried that he would spend the evening acting as a referee.
Adam stood and walked
toward the coat rack. “Let’s go find a ring for Bridget.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The clock in the
Metropolitan Hotel lobby struck the quarter hour as Sam Clemens prepared to
exit and walk to the address Hoss had given him. “Once more into the
breach,” he thought as he wrapped the scarf around his neck and buttoned his
coat. Adam Cartwright could be a formidable man, in words and in deeds,
he remembered as he rubbed his jaw. Still Hoss had assured him that Adam
had mellowed in the intervening years.
He stepped out on to
Broadway and started walking north. The streets were a ceaseless buzz of
activity. The constant jostling and the shouts from the crowds made him
restless. He had known the city for a short time as a printing apprentice
while in his teens but
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sara adjusted Adam’s tie
and stepped back to examine him. “There,” she said. “You look very
professorial and distinguished. Adam, dear, be on your good behavior
tonight.”
“What do you mean?
Has Hoss talked to you?”
“He has. He’s
worried that the evening may end in fisticuffs.”
Adam roared with
laughter. “Now I am sure, dear, that he did not say ‘fisticuffs’.”
She glared at him and he continued. “I promise you I will be a gentleman
this evening. And if we come to blows, we’ll use the Marquis of
Queensbury rules.” He winked at her.
“Men!”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sam stood across the
street from Adam’s house, screwing up his courage to knock on the door. The
curtains of the front parlor were open allowing a warm light out to spill out
toward the street. He looked into the front parlor. The fire was lit. The room
was stylish but comfortable looking. Hoss was sitting on the settee with an
auburn haired little girl by his side, reading a book to her. A pretty woman,
obviously the girl’s mother whom she favored, entered and straightened the
drinks tray on the sideboard. Adam walked in carrying several bottles of wine.
He looked relaxed as he decanted the wine. In fact he was smiling. Perhaps Hoss
was right, maybe he had nothing to fear from the eldest Cartwright. He took one
last puff on his cigar, dropped it in the street and extinguished it under his
heel. He straightened his shoulders and crossed the street.
It was Adam who answered the door and greeted the author. He took his coat and
showed him into the parlor.
“May I introduce my wife, Sara, and my daughter, Amy? Sara, Amy, this is Sam
Clemens also known as Josh, Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass and,” Adam paused for
dramatic effect, snapping his fingers, “Oh yes, Mark Twain.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Sam said as he bowed slightly. “And you,
as well, my child.”
“Why do you have so many names?” Amy asked.
“It protects me from angry readers,” he answered. He noted Adam’s amused
expression and added, “Readers who sometimes have strong reactions to my
stories.”
“Yes, well, I believe we settled that score long ago, Sam.”
“If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Clemens, I promised Amy that she could meet you but
I’ll take her upstairs now.”
“Good night, Mr. Clemens,” Amy said as she curtsied.
“Sit down, Sam. I’ll pour you a peace offering. Whiskey or wine?”
Sam looked to Hoss who winked at him. “Sure, Adam, that would be nice.
Whiskey.”
“Let me offer a toast,” Adam said as he handed Sam and Hoss their glasses. He
took his drink in hand and said, “To friendship, may differences of opinion
cement it.” The three men stood and clicked their glasses.
“That’s mighty generous of ya, Adam,” Hoss said.
“A lot of water has passed under the bridge since I left
“For both of us, Adam,” Sam said and held out his hand to shake Adam’s. The two
men looked each other in the eye and shook hands in friendship.
“Whew! That’s a worry off my mind,” Hoss sighed.
Bridget entered carrying a tray of small dishes of radishes, olives, pickles
and anchovies. Hoss took the tray from her and set it on the side table. He put
his arm around her and coaxed her near to him.
“Bridget, darlin’, I want ya to meet my friend, Sam Clemens.”
Bridget smiled shyly and held out her hand. Sam took her hand in his and kissed
it.
“Sam, this is my fiancé, Bridget Reilly.” Hoss laughed nervously. “That’s the
first time I said it, ‘my fiancé’. Sounds nice, don’t it?”
“Congratulations. May I offer a toast to the happy couple?” Sam bowed slightly.
Adam was pouring a glass of sherry for Bridget as Sara walked in. “Did I hear
something about a toast?”
Adam poured sherry for Sara and added, “Sam was about to toast Hoss and
Bridget’s engagement.”
She smiled warmly and
said, “That’s a wonderful idea.” She looked into her husband’s eyes and was
relieved.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
The meal was delicious
and soon they fell into relaxed conversation about family, mutual friends and
the goings on in
When the conversation turned to the subject of Adam's life and his service in
the War, Sam wasn't surprised by the convictions Adam held that led him to
enlist. But that a Cartwright could leave the Ponderosa did surprise him.
When asked, Adam shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't not join to fight for
the
"Did you see battle then?"
"Oh yeah, I saw the elephant at Chancellorville." He took a deep
breath and let it out slowly. "I was wounded at
Sam shook his head slowly. Even out west everyone know how brutal those battles
had been. Huge losses were suffered on both sides.
Adam turned his head and smiled at Sara. "I was furloughed after that and
recovered at my cousin's home in
Sara reached out and placed her hand on top of his.
"And now, I'm the happiest man alive."
"I don't know about that, big brother. Tonight I may be the happiest
man," Hoss countered as he took Bridget's hand in his.
"But how'd you end up in this infernal place?," Sam asked. "You
had thousands of acres of land in
"It was my experience in the mines in
"Say, that reminds me. Sam, I gotta question to ask ya 'bout somethin'.
Adam, ya got that advertisement?" Hoss stood ready to retrieve the paper.
"It's on my desk."
Hoss returned and handed the paper to Sam. "What do ya know 'bout
this?"
Sam gazed at the ad for the sale of Silvercrest Mining Stocks and shook his
head. "News to me, boys."
"But yer name's right here," Hoss said, pointing to the sidebar.
"Ya say it's 'the richest place on earth'."
"Well, Hoss, I don't deny I wrote that about
"I found it on the new mine atlas today. It abuts the Lucky Star
Mine."
"Didn't ol' Dan Menken have a stake up there?," Hoss asked.
Adam nodded. "Dan's mine was perpendicular with the Lucky Star. There was
a small vein off Jim Duffy's rich one, but that played out years ago. Dan
couldn't go further because of Jim's claim."
"You think someone's tryin' ta cheat folks with this?"
"I don't know, Hoss, but it's worth looking into. I'll wire Phillip and
see what he knows. It would help to see the Exchange filing from
Sam leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Now gents, that's where I can
help."
"Ya wanna help, Sam?"
"I don't like my
name attached to this," Sam said pointing to the ad. "I'm a member of
the Exchange, had to join to report on it. I'll see what I can find out."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bridget, Hoss and Sam walked south along Broadway toward the Metropolitan
Hotel.
"You're right,
Hoss, your brother has changed since I last saw him. Found a sense of
humor, leastwise he appreciates my humor now.”
"Sara tamed him."
"Would that we all could have a woman like Sara to gentle us," Sam
noted wistfully.
Hoss pulled Bridget closer to him. "I do," he said.
"Yes, of course, Hoss. You have your work cut out for you,
Bridget," Sam said. "I was speaking for myself. I need a
good woman to love. When are you headed home, Hoss?"
"Too soon, three weeks, promised Pa I'd come home in March.
Bridget'll come with Adam and his family in June."
"He's moving back?"
"No, he takes students out ta the mines for the summer, that way we get ta
see 'em every year. Ya should see Pa with grandkids. He's that
happy. And Adam's family likes it, too. That little Amy is quite a rider
now."
"This mine scheme," Sam began. "He's seems hell-bent on
getting to the bottom of it.”
"Yeah, it's kinda personal. Bridget's aunt wanted ta buy stock. If
anyone can find out 'bout cheatin', it's Adam."
"Tell your aunt to stay out of the get-rich-quick mines stocks, Bridget.
The easy claims are all played out. It's too risky a gamble right
now," Sam advised. "I always say that a miner is a liar
standing next to a hole in the ground, and that, my fair Bridget is from
someone who tried his hand at it and failed. He added emphatically, “And
from a member of the Exchange. Well, we're here at my hotel."
He took Bridget's hand and kissed it. "It was a pleasure
meeting you, my dear. I'll see you soon, Hoss."
They parted ways in
front of the hotel. Hoss and Bridget continued to walk to her rooming
house. At the bottom of the stoop, out of eyesight of Mrs. Sharkey, Hoss
kissed her.
"'Night,
darlin'. I'll be here in the mornin' to walk ya to Adam's."
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hoss gently
knocked on the door to Adam’s study and walked in.
“Ya writin’ to Pa?”
Adam nodded and leaned
back in his chair. “I’ve drafted a telegram to send to Philip Deisheimer
tomorrow morning. I need some more information before I write to Roy and
Jonah Crum.”
“Jonah? Ya think
there’s somethin’ illegal goin’ on then?”
“I do, and I suspect by
Sam’s reaction that he does as well.”
“Ya want Pa to snoop
around for ya?”
“No. I’m gonna
wait to hear what Sam finds out about the prospectus. Philip can tell me
about the claim filing and mining engineer, if there is a mining engineer
involved.
“I’ll be back in
“I’m counting on that,
Hoss. I want to keep the circle of those who know about this small.”
“Ya think this is
dangerous?”
“Maybe. It could
be financially risky, more likely.” He glanced at the message to
Deisheimer and sighed. He stood and stretched his back. “Let’s go
to bed, Hoss. It’s been a long day.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sam opened the curtains
and cracked the window. He pulled out a cigar and lit it, smoking while
he watched the endless activity on Broadway. Bemused, he thought
back on the evening. He shook his head trying to remember anything
about the Silvercrest Mining. He drew a blank.
He took off his jacket
and hung it on the back of the desk chair. He picked up a calling card
from the desk. Frank Fuller was a friend and fellow newspaperman now
living in
Well, truth be told,
Frank Fuller was a bit of everything, a dentist, a lawyer, a newspaperman, and
a wheeler dealer with important political and commercial connections in the
east and out west. If anyone in the city could help Sam find out about
Silvercrest Mining Stocks, it was Frank Fuller.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Catherine Fuller opened
the door and greeted Sam with a warm smile. She invited him in, and as she took
his coat she said, “I was not expecting you. I’m afraid Frank just arrived.
He’s upstairs changing. He should be down any moment now. Did he ask you
to dinner?”
“No, I dropped by hoping to have a few minutes of his time. I need to talk with
him about a business venture.”
“Well, never mind, Sam. I insist that you stay for dinner. It’s always a
pleasure to see you.” She led him into the parlor and motioned for him to sit
by the fire. “Esme is visiting.”
Sam smiled. Esme Walters was Catherine’s younger sister, bright and attractive.
“A business venture, did you say, Sam? Are you looking for investors or to
invest your own money?”
“Catherine, you know I don't have two coins to rub together." He grinned.
"I promised some friends I’d ask Frank about some mining stocks out west.”
"Mining stocks? I thought you'd sworn off speculating on mines."
"I have," Sam answered. "But don't pretend Frank doesn't still
have interest in
Frank Fuller stepped into the room and kissed his wife. "What's this about
"Silvercrest Mining Stocks."
"Don't know it off hand. Why the interest?"
"Adam Cartwright asked me to look into it."
"Cartwright? Why's he asking you?," Frank asked. "The Ponderosa
is in
"But Adam is here…he's a professor at
"That's a surprise! Still, why you?"
"My name appears in the endorsements in the advertisement. I don't know a
thing about it."
Frank shook his head. "I'll look into it." He poured a whiskey and
looked to Sam. "You staying for dinner, Sam?"
He nodded as he accepted a drink. Esme swept into the room. Sam stood to kiss
her hand. "Miss Walters, how good to see you."
Sam regaled his hosts with stories of his travels to the
After dinner, Frank invited Sam to his study. "Adam Cartwright doesn't
need your financial advice."
"He smells a rat. According to Adam, the mine is next to the Lucky Star
but it was played out years ago."
Frank offered Sam a cigar. As he trimmed his own cigar, he added "I'll
look into it and let you know."
"Thanks, Frank." He stood to shake his friend's hand.
"Now let's talk
about a lecture series. I'm thinking here at Cooper Union, then on to
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
A few days later Adam
received a note from Frank Fuller inviting him to a meeting in his office at 40
Broadway. Sam was invited as well.
“Do you know anything about this mine, Mr. Cartwright?” Fuller asked.
“I found it registered in the mining atlas, next to the Jim Duffy’s Lucky Star
Mine. Dan Menken had a claim up there years ago, but what I remember is that
Duffy was the one with the luck. Dan’s claim didn’t have much of a payoff.”
“Do you think Menken gave up too quick? There are veins that run narrow and
very deep. Did he go down far enough?”
“No, going deeper wouldn’t have made a difference. The vein runs east/west and
Dan’s mine runs into the Lucky Star to the east,” Adam explained. He accepted the
glass of whiskey Fuller offered. “What have you found out?”
“Well, I sent a man to investigate for me,” Fuller replied.
Adam raised his eyebrow. “And?”
“He thinks my friend Sam here has some real competition when it comes to
writing fiction,” Fuller chuckled. “To tell the truth, I think that it is a
real humbug.”
“So who’s behind this,” Sam asked.
“The syndicate was formed here in
“Not at all,” Adam replied shaking his head.
“I just know in my bones this ain’t right,” Sam added. “There’s a couple of
names from the San Francisco Stock Exchange but those fellers deal only in
“But Bridget’s name isn’t known.”
Now it was Sam’s turn to raise an eyebrow. He was surprised that Adam would be
so quick to involve his brother’s fiancé. “You’d send her in alone?”
“Who’s this Bridget?”
“His young housekeeper and his brother’s intended.”
“Not alone, Sam. Hoss’d go with her and maybe her aunt. The aunt could buy the
stock as a wedding gift,” Adam said as he hatched a scheme. “They could go and
ask questions. Maybe, as investors, they could get a copy of the prospectus.”
“Gentlemen, have you discussed this with anyone outside of this room?” Fuller
asked.
“I’ve written Philip Deidesheimer, but no one else outside my family.”
“Deisdesheimer is a good
man. I trust he will keep things under wraps for now,” Fuller said. “There’s no
use alerting anyone else ‘til we find out more.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At lunch the next
afternoon Adam and Frank Fuller gave careful instructions to Hoss and Bridget.
It was decided that the couple would go to the Silvercrest Mining sales offices
and make inquiries about buying stock. To keep things simple, they were to
introduce themselves as an engaged couple. They were to say that Bridget, or
rather her aunt, was interested inbuying stock as a wedding gift. Hoss was to
use his birth name, Eric, and if pressed, he would use Adam’s mother’s name,
Stoddard. They were to ask to examine a prospectus and the projected profits
report. Then they should ask if they might take the report to show the aunt with
the promise of returning with her within the week.
Hoss squeezed Bridget’s hand to give her confidence as they climbed the stairs
to the second story sales office. He knocked softly on the door and they
entered. They were quickly ushered into Colonel Browne’s office. Hoss grinned
as he saw the tall older man outfitted in western gear, complete with a rawhide
vest and his Stetson hat lying on the desk. He guessed it was to lend an air of
authenticity to naïve buyers.
The Colonel stood and pointed to the chairs flanking his desk. “Welcome, folks!
What can I do for ya?”
“My aunt is interested in making me a gift of stock for my wedding,” Bridget
began slowly. She pulled a paper from her pocketbook. “She saw this
advertisement in the Eagle.”
The Colonel nodded. “Well folks, ya come to the right place. This is a once in
a lifetime opportunity.” He pointed to a map spread on a table near the window.
“Why, I tell ya, I’ve never seen anything like this. Ya only have to dip yer
shovel in the ground to come up with silver. A great investment in the future.”
Hoss smiled warmly. “We don’t know nuthin’ about mines, ‘cept what we heard
about the Comstock. That bar holdin’ the paper down on yer desk, is that real
silver?”
“Pure silver, son. Just a sample of what comes out of the Silvercrest. There’s
plenty more where that comes from.. Every day is a payday at that mine. Wanna
hold it?” He passed the bar to Bridget.
She took the bar and was surprised how heavy it was. She fingered the top,
thinking if it were true that the mine was legitimate, her aunt would stand to
make money and finally give up taking in borders.
“Like I said, Colonel, Bridget and me are new to this. Do ya have somethin’ on
paper I can read?”
“Sure, son,” Browne answered as he pulled a pamphlet from under a pile of
papers. “This here is a prospectus, proves the mine’s on the up and up. And
this here is the latest earnings projection.” He pointed to a chart on the last
page. “You get in now and ya’ll make money hand over fist.”
“I need some time ta look this over," Hoss said hesitantly. "Can I
take this to show Aunt Mariah? She’s dippin’ into her life savings for this.”
“I don’t normally let that go,” Browne said. Bridget looked crestfallen and
Browne relented. “I’m gonna regret this, but sure, take it with ya.”
Hoss smiled and thought
the Colonel certainly would regret lending the prospectus if Adam’s suspicions
were confirmed. “Well, thank ya, Colonel. I’ll take real good care of it. We’ll
be back real soon.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Crossing the street to
City Hall Park, Hoss spied Tony.
“Hey li’l fella, how are
ya?”
“Mr. Hoss, yer brother
told me to tell ya to meet him at the Metropolitan Hotel.” Tony looked up
at the second floor window. “Buy a paper ‘cause that man’s eyein’ ya from
his window.”
Hoss took a nickel from
his pocket and Tony handed him a newspaper. Tony doffed his cap and said,
“I’ll see ya soon, Mr. Hoss,” as he walked away.
Bridget took Hoss’ arm
and the couple turned north to walk up Broadway to the hotel. They found
Adam, Sam and Frank Fuller waiting for them in the lobby. Adam took
Bridget’s hand and led her to a seat near the roaring fireplace.
“Are you all right?” he
asked his future sister-in-law.
She nodded.
“We got the prospectus,”
Hoss said as he dug in his coat pocket to retrieve it. “Tony noticed the
Colonel was watchin’ us as we left.”
“Probably calculating
his profit,” Sam surmised. “There’s a sucker born every minute. He just
doesn’t know, that in this particular case, he’s the sucker.”
“So let’s look at this
document.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The front of the blue
pamphlet looked familiar and dull. It was printed in a style that evoked trust
for nervous, first-time investors. Its ordinariness gave them the welcome
impression that the Silvercrest Mining Corporation was a reputable and sober
business.
SILVERCREST MINING CORPORATION
Virginia City,
Incorporated, 30th day of July, 1866
Thomas Barton, President
John McKean, Vice-President
Directors:
Charles E. Pepper, W. W. Hicks, Enoch Reese, Stephen O’Hara,
James R. Casey, Lewis Hardy, Theodore White, Joshua Hogan, Frederick Minton,
Ryan Pepper, Theodore Quayle.
Col. Clarence Browne, Mining Agent
Howe & Ferry, Printers and Stationers, No. 76 Bowery,
Unimpressed, Adam opened
the pamphlet and skipped over the formal legal language to find details.
“The object of this
venture shall be the development of the former Dan Menken claim, the
Silvercrest Mine, for the mining, stamping, and selling of silver and other
ores and metals, and for these purposes may acquire and hold by purchase, lease
or other title, personal property, lands, and mining claims and rights, and
construct and maintain buildings, machinery, and other erections and other
improvements thereon, with the power to any such lands or other property.”
“Said Capital Stock
shall consist of twenty thousand shares of one hundred dollars which number may
be increased to ten million dollars.”
“Whew, that’s
$2,000,000!” Hoss exclaimed. “That’s a lot of start up cash.”
“On the backs of a lot
small investors like my aunt,” Bridget added.
Adam read the first
paragraph of the Report of Captain Harold Morris, Mining Engineer.
“Of the Silvercrest
Mine, I believe it to be one of the best and most production mining ventures in
“Well, none of it is
real,” Hoss added. “That mine played out years ago. It’s all a
lie.”
“The stuff that dreams
are made on,” Adam said quoting Shakespeare.
“Gentlemen, now that we
have the specifics, I suggest we get to work on investigating this operation,”
Fuller announced. “This Thomas Barton, I figure that's “Bat” Thomas.”
“I was just thinkin’ the same, Frank,” Sam answered.
“Who’s Bat Thomas?” Adam asked.
“A real black-hearted, silver-tongued, slippery weasel if ever there was one,”
Sam said. “He’d sell his sister if he knew he’d get a tidy profit. First met
him on a riverboat headed north out of
"Promoted himself to major by the time he settled in
"Showed up in 'Frisco about four years ago," Sam continued,
"buying up unprospected worthless claims and selling 'em to folks with
half the sense they were born with. The deeds were such that if the buyer
couldn't make a go of it in a year's time, and no one could, the ownership went
back to Thomas. He sold those worthless claims several times over, making fists
full of dollars 'til the state started sniffing 'round him."
"Probably why this mine venture is listed here in
"So he moves on to
"As I see it, we should work on two fronts," Adam said. "Hoss,
you'll be our link to both
Hoss looked at his brother for more explanation.
"We need to buy stock here in
"But I can’t buy stock in my name," Hoss said.
"Oh lordie, Adam, Aunt Mariah can't pay for that. That's her life savings
she'd lose." Bridget gasped.
"She won't, my dear," Adam assured her. "Sara will. She'll pose
as your aunt and buy the stock as "Sara Knowles," her name before she
married me. That way, she'll be the aggrieved party in a potential lawsuit here
in
"I like the way you think, Cartwright," Fuller said as he stroked his
whiskers. "Perhaps I should find another buyer, my sister-in-law Esme or
one of my clerks."
Adam smiled at Fuller and leaned forward to shake his hand. "It'll be a
pleasure to work with you, Frank."
"Pleasure's all mine, Adam."
Hoss swallowed hard and squeezed Bridget's hand to reassure her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next day there was a
telegram from Philip Deidesheimer waiting for Adam when he returned home after
classes.
SM sign posted STOP
Untouched mine site. STOP Nothing more than large kidney mine. STOP
Depth of vein four feet to few inches. STOP No trace fissure mine.
Adam contacted both Sam
and Frank Fuller and they agreed to meet at the Metropolitan Hotel on Friday
evening. Adam passed the telegram to Sam and Frank.
“It’s a confidence game
all right,” Adam began. “But we knew that.”
“Trouble with Bat is
that he’s crafty. If he isn’t too arrogant and brash in his thieving,
no one will meddle with him,” Sam said.
“Two million dollars
ain’t brash?” Hoss asked.
“They’re not lookin’ for
that sum, Hoss,” Adam explained. “They’re lookin’ for a quick sale of say
$50,000.”
“Their advertisements
might bring in more. Maybe $100,000 is my guess,” Frank said.
“Still, that’s a tidy
sum,” Hoss said.
“You ready to buy some
stock, Hoss?” Sam asked.
“I am but Bridget is
pretty jumpy.”
“She doesn’t have to
go. Sara is willing,” Adam said.
“I took the liberty of
talking to a friend, a classmate in fact, in the District Attorney’s Office,
strictly hypothetically of course,” Frank said.
“And, hypothetically,
what did he have to say?” Adam asked with a smile remembering that Frank Fuller
was an attorney.
“Hypothetically it would
strengthen our case if I sent one of my employees, my accountant, Asa Barnes,
to buy some stock as well. He can say he is looking to invest with a
group. He might even bring a fellow group member with him,” Frank laughed
softly. “Another friend, a detective friend.”
“Then do you need me and
Sara?” Hoss asked.
“We do,” Frank
said. “We’re gonna need you here and back in
“I see,” Hoss said
nodding. “Say Adam does Jonah Crum know anything yet?”
“Not yet. I needed
Philip’s information.” Seeing Fuller’s puzzled expression Adam explained that
Crum was the state’s attorney in
“I suggest we hold off
notifying Mr. Crum until we have more evidence on this end,” Fuller said.
“I’m sure that this is a fraud but we need to prove it. And I am
confident in my connections to the courts in
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Monday, Hoss returned
to the sales office for the Silvercrest Mining Corporation with Sara with the
intent to buy shares in the worthless mine. The transaction went
unquestioned and an hour later they left with an elaborately printed
certificate of ownership for ten shares. They proceeded to Frank Fuller’s
law office to deposit the certificate for safe keeping.
Late that afternoon
there was a loud knocking on the front door. Adam opened it to a very
frightened and breathless Nico. "Mister! I'm lookin' for
Mister Cartwright. Is he here?"
"I’m Mr.
Cartwright, son."
Nico slumped against the
doorframe, crestfallen. “Yer not him. He’s a big man.”
Overhearing the conversation, Hoss walked out into the hallway.
"Nico, is that you?"
"Come in, son," Adam said and pulled the boy into the house.
"What's the matter?"
"It's Tony! He's hurt. We was hoppin' off the horse-car and
it jerked. He fell hard in the street. He was out cold and they
took him away."
"Who took him, Nico?"
"Coppers. They put 'im in a wagon and off they went."
"Where did it happen?"
"At
Hoss looked alarmed and asked Adam, "Where would they take him?"
"
"Wait here, son.
I'll get my coat and we'll go. Don't worry, we'll find him."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hoss and Nico ran to the
hospital on
“Now where do you think
you’re off to?”
“Please, S’ter, my pal
Tony might be here,” Nico blurted.
Sister Regina grabbed
him by the shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Who is this Tony?”
Hoss stepped forward his
hat in his hands and addressed her. “He’s a newsboy, ma’am. Jest a little
fella. Nico here saw him get hurt in horse-car accident at Jefferson Market
this afternoon. He was taken away on a cart. We’re hoping he was brung
here.”
Her fearsome expression
melted and she nodded. “He’s here. Lucky little fella he is.
He’s up in the children’s ward.” She squeezed Nico’s shoulder and
said, “You can have a quick look and then you’re gone young man.” She
gazed at Hoss and asked, “Are you the father?”
“No, ma’am. He
never said anything ‘bout his father but his mother died a few weeks ago.
I’d say Nico and me, we’re ‘bout all he has in the world.”
She nodded and said,
“Then you’re next of kin. You can stay the night with him.” She
pointed to the staircase. “Upstairs and to the right is the children’s
ward. Ask for Sister Mary Therese.”
They walked into
ward. Rows of cots lined the room and under the starched white sheets lay
pale and silent young patients. They found Tony easily. His head was
swathed in a bandage stained with iodine. His left shoulder was in a
splint. He was lying still with his eyes shut against the pain.
“Tony, ya okay?”
Nico’s resolve melted and tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Nico?” Tony
opened his eyes. “Oh Mr. Hoss, yer here too?” He started to
sob.
Hoss sat on the bed and
gathered Tony in his arms. “Yer okay, son. I’m here.”
“You’re the next of kin,
I suppose,” Sister Mary Therese asked as she approached the bed.
Hoss nodded.
“That’s good. He’s
a lucky boy, just bruises and a shoulder out of joint and a good bump on the
noggin. The doctor wants him to stay tonight. Are you staying with
him then?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’ll need to wake him
every hour and see that he’s alert.”
“I understand.”
“But this boy,” she
pointed to Nico, “can’t stay.”
Before Nico could put up
a fight, Hoss answered. “Son, I need for ya to go to my brother’s house
and tell ‘em I’m stayin’ here tonight. Then tomorrow mornin’ I need ya to
bring some clean clothes for Tony. It’d help me out somethin’ fierce if
ya do that.”
Reluctantly Nico
nodded.
Hoss reached out and
mussed his hair. “Go on now, Nico. We’re fine. See ya in the
mornin’.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dutifully, Hoss kept
vigil over Tony. The doctor suspected a slight concussion and advised Hoss to
keep him awake as long as he could and to wake him often throughout the night
to guard against a coma. Hoss nodded and followed the instructions. Plenty of
times he'd heard that same advise when a bronco had thrown Adam and Joe or when
they got into scrapes. He thought about Doc Martin's impatience with his
brothers' misadventures. "You'd think one of these times they'd knock a
little sense INTO their heads!"
He watched the boy carefully and thought long and hard about what to do about
Tony. He would not allow him to be in harm's way again if he could help it.
Near dawn he asked the night nurse for some paper and a pencil. He drafted a
telegram to his father working to get the wording just right. He folded the
paper and placed it in his shirt pocket and dozed for an hour or so before Tony
woke.
"Mister Hoss," Nico said as he tapped Hoss's shoulder. "Mister
Hoss."
Hoss woke with a start and rubbed his eyes. "Oh Nico, you're early. Did ya
bring some clothes?"
"Yessiree," Nico answered handing Hoss a bag.
"Good boy. Thanks."
"How is he?"
"Well, the doc says he's doing first-rate. That's jest natural sleep,
nuthin' to worry about. He's got more color than yesterday. I'm sure he'll
still have a walloping headache when he wakes up but he'll be jest fine."
"I was so scared for 'im."
"I know, Nico. Yer a good pal to Tony."
"Where you gonna take 'im?"
"My brother Adam's house. His wife Sara and my Bridget will mother him a
bit."
"Mister Hoss… I think maybe he's too little to be a newsboy. I tried to
help him but he still got hurt."
"You did real good, Nico. It was an accident but ya might be right that
he's too young," Hoss said. He had his hand on the boy's shoulder to
reassure him. "Why don't you wake him up and we'll head on over to Adam's
house."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Adam walked Amy to school and made his way to the university before Hoss
arrived home with Tony in his arms. Bridget answered the door and led the way
into Adam’s study, followed by Hoss, Nico and Sara. The settee was made up as a
day bed, the sheets turned down waiting for the boy. A warm fire was lit and
the curtains had been drawn. Bright lights aggravated Tony’s aching head.
“He don’t have a nightshirt,” Nico said.
“We’ll make do,” Sara answered as she removed Tony’s hat and coat. “Bridget,
would you fetch one of Adam’s undershirts?”
“I’ll get it, hon,” Hoss answered looking at Bridget.
“Are you hungry Hoss?” Bridget asked.
“Yeah, I missed dinner last night. How ‘bout you, Nico? Bet you skipped
breakfast this mornin’.”
The boy nodded and Bridget put her hand on his shoulder. “Then let’s go to the
kitchen and I’ll fry up some ham and eggs. We’ve got biscuits ready and there’s
plenty of honey. Sound good to you?”
Hoss returned with the shirt and helped Sara slide it over Tony’s head. They
were careful not to jostle his shoulder too much but he was ashen when Sara
settled him back against the plumped pillows. His eyes were shut tight and his
breathing was quite shallow as he fought off the pain.
“I’ll stay with him. Go have breakfast, Hoss,” Sara said as she pulled the
blanket up around Tony’s shoulders. She felt his forehead to check for a fever.
Her gentleness made him miss his mother. She used to comfort him this way when
he was sick.
“Ma’am?” He opened his eyes to break the spell.
She smiled warmly. “Are you hungry, Tony?”
He barely shook his head. He was hungry but he feared the nausea caused by his
concussion would make him sick again if he ate.
“Not even for some cinnamon toast and hot cocoa?” She knew she could disguise
the bitter powder for his headache in the cocoa. “Just a taste?”
“A little hungry, maybe. Don’t wanna be any trouble.”
“No trouble at all, sweetie. You sit still and I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She walked into the kitchen to find Hoss and Nico tucking into a hearty
breakfast. She took a vial of powder from the cupboard and asked, “Bridget, is
there more cocoa made?”
Bridget filled a cup and handed it to Sara who added a pinch of the powder to
it.
“Could you make a slice of cinnamon toast?”
“I’ll bring it in to you as soon as it is finished.”
Sara returned to the study and helped Tony sit up to drink the cocoa. “Now
drink it all up, Tony. It’ll warm you from the inside.”
Bridget brought the toast and Tony managed to eat most of it before he laid
back against the pillows. Soon he closed his eyes and was fast asleep.
Back in the kitchen Hoss pulled out the paper from his shirt pocket. “Nico, I
got one more errand for ya, if yer willin’. I need ya to send a telegram to my
pa out west.”
“But Tony….”
“I reckon Tony’s gonna sleep most of today, son. He’s really not up for
visitors yet.”
Nico nodded and took the paper from Hoss, who pulled out two dollar coins and
handed it to the boy.
“Don’t know how much it’ll cost to send. Maybe ya can buy Tony a little
present.”
“Like some licorice? He loves red licorice.”
“That’s a good idea. Maybe ya can buy somethin’ fer yerself.”
“Thanks, Mr. Hoss.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bridget made up a cot
for Tony in the children’s room. Hoss tried to insist he’d watch the boy
through the night, but he was exhausted from the sleepless night the day before
and was yawning by eight o’clock. Adam gently reminded him that loud noises
exacerbated headaches.
“What do ya mean?”
“Snoring, Hoss.”
“I don’t snore that
loud, Adam.”
Amy giggled.
“Only like a rumbling summer thunderstorm,” Adam teased. “Close your door or
you’ll keep us all awake.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the middle of the night Amy tiptoed into her parents’ room and nudged her
father’s shoulder.
“Papa. Papa, wake up.”
Adam woke with a start and turned toward her.
“It’s Tony, Papa. He’s having a nightmare. He’s crying for his mama.”
Adam rose and put on his robe and slippers and walked Amy back to the
children’s room. He turned the gas light on low and tucked Amy back into bed,
kissing the top of her head.
“You did the right thing, Amy. Sweet dreams.”
Tony’s forehead was damp with fever and he was murmuring in his sleep. Adam sat
on the edge of the cot and rubbed the boy’s back.
“There, there, Tony. It’s all right, son. It’s just a dream.”
The boy woke and stared at Adam, not recognizing him or the surroundings.
“Tony, son, it’s Mr. Cartwright,” Adam said softly. “Do you know where you are?
You were having a bad dream. You’re safe here, son.”
“Mister Hoss?”
“Shhhh…..do you hear that snoring? That’s Hoss.”
The boy sighed in relief. Adam gathered him up in his arms and leaned down to
pick up a blanket at the foot of the bed. He sat in the rocker and wrapped the
boy in the blanket.
“When Amy has a bad dream she likes to sit with me a while,” he said as he
began to rock the boy slowing. Tony rested his head on Adam’s broad chest and
he listened to the strong steady heartbeat. His breathing slowed and soon he
was asleep. Adam continued to rock him until he was sure the boy was fast
asleep. Then he settled Tony back in bed and turned down the light.
Back in bed, Adam nestled close to Sara and put his arm around her waist.
“That little boy needs a family,” Sara said sleepily.
“I know.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Long before the sun was up Hoss sat in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee and
deep in contemplation.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Adam said softly as he moved in the direction of the
coffeepot on the stove.
“Mornin’, Adam.” Hoss sighed. “Jest thinkin’ ‘ bout that little boy.”
“He woke from a nightmare last night. He was crying for his mother.”
Hoss’s brow furrowed. “I was wrong about him. It was too much. He’s too young
to be workin’.
“I think so, too,” Adam said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “He needs a
family.”
“Been thinkin’ about that since the other night.”
“Hoss, you did a good thing to find him a spot in the Newsboys' Lodge downtown
but you can’t take on the responsibility of that boy just as you marry
Bridget.”
“You took on Amy when you married Sara.”
“It’s different. Amy was Sara’s daughter. Tony is….well, Tony is a stranger
really.”
“I know. I ain’t even had a chance to talk to Bridget about this. I wrote Pa
‘bout it.”
“Pa?”
“Yeah, well, I was thinkin’ that maybe the Santini’s might take Tony in.” Hoss
paused when he saw Adam’s confusion. “You know, the folks that cook up at the
timber camp. They lost a little boy jest about Tony’s age last winter.”
“And if they don’t want to take him in?”
“Well he can stay with me and Pa and Joe for a while ‘til I find him a place
then. I jest know I gotta get him somewhere safer than here. He coulda died in
that accident, Adam.” The clock in the parlor struck six and Hoss stood. “Gotta
go pick up Bridget. If’n he wakes up, tell Tony I’ll be right back.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There was a letter from Frank Fuller waiting for Adam at his office, stating
that the second sale of Silvercrest Mining stock to his accountant and
Detective Allan Murphy had gone smoothly. Their stock certificates, and those
that Sara purchased, were now in the Det. Murphy’s files in the City Hall
Police Station. A copy of the prospectus and the filings with the Exchange were
there also. He asked Adam to hand over the Deidesheimer telegram and any other information
he had gathered. The police were pursuing the case “with interest.”
Adam leaned back in his desk chair and read the letter again. He thought back
on the early morning talk he’d had with Hoss and worried that he and Fuller
were putting too much pressure on his brother. He believed Bat Thomas and his
cronies were thieves but were they desperate men? And how dangerous would they
be when their scheme was exposed? Hoss planned to leave in two weeks. He’d be
in
He pulled his chair close to the desk and a clean sheet of paper from his desk
tray. He began a letter to Roy Coffee. As he outlined the situation in plain
simple terms he saw that Hoss did not need to act alone in the investigation in
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Adam hung his coat and
scarf on the peg near the door and stepped into his study to drop off his
satchel. There he found the fire burning warmly and Hoss seated on the
settee with Tony and Amy flanking him. He was entertaining them with the
story about Old Sheba, the elephant he and Joe brought to the Ponderosa.
“Grandpa
was sure mad about Old Sheba, right Uncle Hoss?”
“That’s right, Amy,” Adam answered. “He nearly blew his stack.”
“A real elephant, Mr. Hoss?”
“Yep and tame as a kitten she was. Pa grew quite fond of her.”
Adam smiled wryly. “If you say so, Hoss.”
Sara walked in with Jacob in her arms. Adam kissed her and grabbed his
squirming son.
“Watch out, Papa, he’s drooling.”
Adam ignored the warning and held Jacob high and then lowered him and
exclaimed, “Boo.” The baby squealed with laughter. Tony winced at the
volume of the laughing. Sara noticed and interrupted the scene.
“Dinner will be ready in half an hour. Amy, I need you to set the table
for me.”
“Is Tony eating with us?”
“I think we will spare him our family circus at meal time today. How does
your head feel, son?” Adam asked noting that Tony was still pale.
“Better, sir.”
“But bright lights still bother you?”
“A little.”
“And loud noises?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ll leave you and Hoss alone then. I’ll bring you a dinner tray in a
few minutes,” Sara said as she ushered the family from the room.
xxxxxxxxx
After dinner Bridget
stood at the sink doing dishes. Hoss placed dirty dishes on the counter
and hugged her from behind. He leaned down and kissed her neck. He
paused and breathed in the scent of her hair.
“Oh darlin’, jest two
weeks before I leave and I can’t think about life without ya.”
Bridget leaned back and
took his hand in hers. She raised it to her lips and kissed it.
“Love is funny, isn’t
it? We met at Christmas and now look at us,” she said as she turned
to face him.
He gathered her in his
arms and kissed her fully.
“I’ve been
thinkin’. I don’t wanna leave with jest yer promise to marry me.
How ‘bout we get married before I go?”
“But I promised Aunt
Mariah I’d stay until spring.”
“I know and we’ll honor
that. But when we’re apart, the first thing in the mornin’ and last thing
at night and all through the day, I wanna know that we’re man and wife.”
“Can we do that?”
“I was thinkin’ I’d ask
that Frank Fuller. He’s got friends in high places. If he can get
somebody, can you be ready by next week?”
Her eyes glistened with
tears and she nodded. He lifted her and spun her around.
“That’s my girl! I
love ya, Bridget Reilly.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Mr. Cartwright is here
to see you,” Frank Fuller’s secretary announced.
“Show him in,” Fuller
said without looking up from his paperwork. He rose to greet his guest
and was caught by surprise. There stood Hoss, not Adam, with whom he had
an appointment.
“Hoss, I wasn’t
expecting you. What can I do for you?”
Hoss shook Fuller’s
outstretched hand and sat in the chair facing the desk.
“I need a favor,
Frank. I wanna marry Bridget before I go back home. And I need a
will in case anything happens to me.”
“Bat Thomas is a
scallywag, Hoss, but he’s usually not dangerous.”
“Still wanna marry her.”
“Well that is
understandable, my friend. It is obvious that you are meant for each
other. Now when is it that you’re leaving?”
“On the 28th.”
Fuller smiled at his new
friend and assured him that a judge or a suitable official could be
found. “I’ll call in a favor, don’t you worry. I’ll be in touch.”
Hoss grinned in
relief. He thanked Fuller and stood to leave as the secretary announced
that the other Mr. Cartwright had arrived for his appointment.
Adam walked in, hat in
hand, and surprised to find his brother. Hoss smiled at his brother.
“We’re jest finishin’ up
here, Adam.” Hoss winked at Fuller.
“Finishing up?”
“Jest a little legal
business, brother, don’t concern ya right now. See ya at home.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Adam and Fuller spent
the next hour discussing the plan of action against Silvercrest Mining and
Adam’s concerns. It was agreed that the
“I think that is time to
include Sheriff Coffee and the local State’s Attorney Jonah Crum in this
matter.”
“Crum’s a good
man. I agree,” Fuller said.
“I’d like to protect my
brother and minimize his involvement in
“Yes. We can work
with the authorities and home in on the investigation more narrowly. But
you’ve got a family, Adam. Why put yourself in harm’s way?”
“Because, unlike Hoss,
I’ve got the background to challenge these frauds. I won’t make myself a
target, I assure you.”
Fuller
nodded. He’d get in touch with Det. Allan Murphy, Roy Coffee and
Jonah Crum. He’d use his connections from his days in the territorial
government to keep close tabs on the Silvercrest Mining Corporation.
“That’s settled then,”
Adam said as he shook Fuller’s hand. “It puts my mind at ease. Now
what’s this business you’re doing with my brother?”
“It’s his story to tell,
Adam.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next Friday, the
small wedding party left Frank Fuller’s law office, and proceeded to the Astor
Hotel. There they had a champagne toast and cake to celebrate the
occasion. Another wedding ceremony and party was planned for June in
The bellboy opened the
door to the suite Adam had arranged for them. Hoss tipped him and quietly
closed the door. Bridget stood in the center of the room taking it all
in. The velvet curtains, the lace pillow shams on the large bed, the soft
lighting, the iced bottle of champagne, and scent of roses from the huge
bouquet on the vanity. Hoss embraced her from behind.
“Are you happy, Mrs. Cartwright?”
She turned to kiss
him.
“I’ll take that as a
‘yes’ then.”
She smiled coyly.
“I gotta take off this
jacket and this dang tie, it’s chokin’ me to death.”
He draped his black suit
jacket over the vanity chair and stood before her in his red vest. She
unbuttoned it and wrapped her arms underneath it and around his waist.
“Hoss Cartwright, all that walking to pick me up and take me home every day for
a month worked. This shirt fits you!”
“Maybe I was jest
lovesick, darlin’,” he said, chuckling. “Can’t hardly breathe in that
jacket though.”
“Still, you’re a very
handsome man,” she cooed as she removed his vest and pulled his shirt from his
trousers.
“Why Mrs. Cartwright, if
I didn’t know better I’d say you’re a brazen hussy,” Hoss teased. He
lifted her and carried her to the bed.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Adam and Sara arrived
home and thanked their neighbor Anna for watching Jacob and Tony. Amy was
across the street playing with the
“Hey, where’s
Bridget? And where’s Uncle Hoss?”
Tony was smiling slyly
sitting on the settee in the parlor. His arm was still in a sling but he
was much recovered. “I’ve got a secret.”
“What kind of secret?”
“A BIG one ‘bout Mr.
Hoss.”
“What about Uncle Hoss?”
Tony smiled triumphantly
and announced, “He got married today.”
“Tony Lucca, you quit
lying. My Uncle Hoss did not get married. He’s getting married in
Adam walked into the
room just as a furious Amy approached Tony. “Wait a minute, little girl.
What’s got your dander up?” he asked as he put his hands on her shoulders and
steered her away.
“Tony said Uncle Hoss
and Bridget got married today and I say it’s a lie. It is a lie.
Tell him, Papa.”
“Oh dear,” Adam said
under his breath. They hadn’t told the children about the wedding.
Hoss hadn’t told his father or Joe either. It was the couple’s preference
to make this commitment privately before Hoss returned out west to pledge their
love for one another. There would be a public wedding and reception at the
Ponderosa when Bridget arrived later.
“How did you know?”
Amy’s eyes widened in
disbelief. “You mean they did?”
“Mr. Hoss asked ya where
ya put the wedding ring before ya left.”
“Papa?” Amy asked with
tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,”
he said as he hugged her. “Tony is right. But you’ll still be the
flower girl in June.”
“I have a thing or two
to say to them when they get home,” Amy said putting Adam in mind of his
father’s tone.
“I’m sure that you do,
sweetie. Why don’t you go help your mama in the kitchen?”
She harrumphed and
stomped her way out of the room. A crooked smile crossed Adam’s
face. “Hell hath no fury….”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Late Sunday afternoon
Bridget and Hoss returned. A trunk of Bridget’s belongings was delivered
on Saturday and was placed at the foot of the bed in Hoss’s room. Amy’s
temper had cooled and she was happy to be a part of keeping the secret from Ben
and Joe. She greeted her uncle and her new aunt warmly. Sara baked
a cake and Adam concocted a fizzy sugary punch for toasting to the couple after
dinner.
A letter from Ben
arrived in the next morning’s mail. It was in reply to Hoss’s inquiry
about the Santini’s interest in adoption. Hoss sat at Adam’s desk and
read the letter carefully. It was good news. They wanted to meet
Tony.
Bridget walked in with a
cup of hot coffee for Hoss. She stopped in the doorway and noted with
concern his furrowed brow. She took a deep breath and continued into the
room.
“Hoss, honey. Is
anything the matter?”
“What,” Hoss looked
up. “No darlin’, it’s good news really.” He sighed. “It’s
jest that sometimes good news can hurt.”
Bridget placed the cup
on the desk and Hoss pulled her into his lap. “I think I found a home for
Tony and I’ll miss him.”
“That letter is from
your father. Is Tony going to live with him?”
“There’s a couple who
work for us at the timber camp, Bruno and Lucy Santini. They lost a son
‘bout Tony’s age a year or so ago. They’re interested.”
“They’re good people,
right?”
“Oh yeah. It was
my idea to get in touch with ‘em. I thought it’d be good for them and for
Tony. They’re Italian, he’s Italian. They could talk the same
language. They lost a boy. He needs folks.”
She smoothed his
brow. “And what’s different now?”
“Now?,” he paused for a
moment. “I guess he’s worked his way into my heart.”
“And you think he won’t do that with the Santini’s?” she asked gently.
“You have to think, what is best for Tony.”
“You’re right.
We’ll hafta see what happens when they meet. I do know that he’d be
better off in
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The week before Hoss and
Tony left flew by like a whirlwind. There was shopping to do for Tony,
gifts to buy for Ben and Joe, packing trunks and arranging freight delivery,
and saying goodbye to friends.
Nico stood tall and
brave as he wished his little pal well. “You be good, Tony. If’n ya get
in trouble, I’ll come lookin’ fer ya.” Hoss walked the boy to the door
and caught him in a bear hug. “It’s da right thing ta do, Mister Hoss,
but it don’t mean I wanna see da last of ‘im.”
“Yer always welcome at
the Ponderosa, son.”
“Thanks, Mister.”
Hoss
said his goodbyes to Sara and Amy at home. Adam accompanied Hoss
and Bridget to the train station and stood a small distance away with Tony as
the couple parted.
“You ready to go, Tony?”
Adam asked.
“I guess so, Mr.
Cartwright. Nico say as I’m not a little scared.”
Adam put his hand on the
boy’s shoulder to comfort him. “You’ll be fine, son. Why by the
time we see you again, you’ll have lots of good things to tell us. I’m
betting you’ll be riding a pony better than Amy.”
“A pony? Really?”
“Sure. Ask
Hoss. He’ll teach you to ride.”
“Yes, sir!”
The conductor called for
the passengers to board. With tears in their eyes, the couple
parted. Hoss grabbed Tony’s hand and they boarded. Hoss opened the
window and waved to Bridget as the train pulled out of the station.
Adam put his arm around
Bridget. “It’ll go by quickly. Sara has a list as long as my arm of
things you need to do before you move out west.” He kissed the top of her
head.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Three weeks later
The stage pulled into
Hoss climbed down first
and assisted a pair of ladies. Tony jumped from the stage, relieved that
the journey was over. Hoss caught him, laughing at the boy’s
enthusiasm.
“Well look at him,” Joe
said nudging his father’s elbow. “He’s all citified in that coat.”
“He looks mighty good to
me,” Ben answered as he stepped off the boardwalk toward his son.
“Pa!” Hoss called out
and embraced his father in a bear hug. “It’s good to be home.”
Tony stood close to Hoss
but he was watching a couple who were watching him. The woman was small
with dark hair and a bright smile. She wore a pretty yellow dress and
straw hat. Her eyes glistened as she looked at the boy. The man stood
quietly and nodded at the boy.
Tony poked at Hoss and
asked, “Is that them, Mister Hoss?”
Hoss turned to face the
Santini’s and took Tony’s hand. They walked over to greet the couple.
“Signor, mi chiamo
Tony.”
“Buongiorno, Tony,”
Bruno Santini said, bowing slightly. “Mi chiamo Bruno Santini e la mia esposa,
Lucia.”
The woman put her hands
on the boy’s shoulders and said, “Chiamami, ‘mama’, Tony.” She gathered
him in a hug.
“Mama,” Tony
whispered. “Mama.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Ben placed his hand on
his son’s large shoulder.
“Do you think he’s okay,
Pa?”
“Son, I remember how you
fell in love with Marie mighty fast.
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?”
Hoss said smiling a wide crooked grin.
“A boy that young needs
a ma and a pa,” Ben said.
Tony broke away from the
Santini’s and walked slowly to face Hoss. “Mister Hoss, they want me to
go with ‘em. They’re real nice and they say they need a boy like
me. Can I?”
“Yeah, son, I think you
should.” Affectionately he mussed Tony’s hair. “You be a good boy and mind
them. I’ll come to see you soon. Tell yer ma I like spaghetti and
meatballs.”
“Lotsa meatballs!” Tony
said as he ran back to join his new family.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Mista Hoss not feel
well?” Hop Sing asked after noticing that the platter of roast beef was
not empty.
Hoss patted his stomach
and said, “I’m feelin’ jest fine, Hop Sing. It was mighty tasty, but I’m
full up to my ears.”
Joe laughed. “When
were you ever full on two helpings?”
“Not too full for
dessert?” Hop Sing asked. “I make apple pie for you.”
Hoss smiled and held out
his thumb and forefinger just an inch apart. “Just a taste, Hop
Sing. I really am full.”
“Now I know yer sick,”
Joe said.
“I’m not sick. I
feel fine.” Hoss answered. “It’s jest I promised Bridget I’d wear
one of them fancy new suits I brung back from
“So yer, lovesick!” Joe
countered laughing. “You miss her.”
Ben smiled at Joe’s
gentle teasing. He watched Hoss blush in response. He’d had Adam’s
assurances that Bridget and Hoss were well suited for each other and deeply in
love. It did his heart good to know that his gentle giant of a son had
found someone who loved him as much as he loved her.
“Yeah, I miss her,” Hoss
replied. “Jest wait ‘til ya meet her. You’ll see why I wanna make
her happy.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A week later Hoss was in
town to pick up his mail and the trunk he had sent by freight. There were
six letters waiting for him, one in Adam’s familiar hand, one in Amy’s childish
scrawl and four from Bridget.
“You’re very popular
these days, Hoss,” Ed Colby said.
“I guess I am, Ed.”
“A little bird told me
there’s a wedding planned at the Ponderosa,” Vera Colby said.
“Little bird is right,”
Hoss replied.
Vera stood on her
tiptoes and kissed Hoss’s cheek. “That’s grand news, Hoss.”
“Funny that you had to
go all the way to
“That’s right,
Ed.” Hoss tipped his hat and made his way to the Wells Fargo office to
pick up the trunks.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hoss! Hold on a
minute, will ya?"
Hoss pushed a trunk to the front of the wagon bed and turned to greet Sheriff
Coffee. He tipped his hat and smiled warmly at his father's oldest friend.
"Hey
"Congratulations, son,"
"Thanks,
"Say, I got some questions for ya, Hoss. I got some mail all the way from
Hoss nodded and spoke softly. "Best we speak about that in private,
Roy."
"I reckon yer right, Hoss. Maybe I'll ride out to see ya on Sunday."
"And stay fer supper?" Hoss teased.
"Well, I can't rightly turn down one of Hop Sing's meals."
"Then we'll expect ya for supper. But
"Then I'll meet ya up at the lake 'round two o'clock? We can do some
fishin' and talkin', jest the two of us."
Hoss nodded and lifted a second trunk into the wagon. A third trunk sat on the
boardwalk. It was addressed to Antonio Lucca in care of the Ponderosa.
"Who's this
"That's the orphan boy I brung with me from
"I heard about that,"
"Yeah," Hoss said softly.
"I tell ya,
"It'd make your pa mighty happy if that happens, son. There's plenty of
room on the Ponderosa for a whole passel of children. Say, you ain't taken'
this trunk with ya, are ya?"
Hoss loaded the trunk and tipped his hat to
xxxxxxxxxx
"Oh, Mister Hoss, it is good to see you," Bruno said as he pumped
Hoss's hand. "We're so happy, my Lucia and Tony and me."
"That's good to hear, Bruno. He's a good little guy, jest fell on hard
times."
"He helps plenty….. and smart!"
Hoss beamed. "Whatcha doin' at the bank?"
"My Lucia and me, we think we best move to town. Tony needs to go to
school. He needs children to play with. We think we want to open a
restaurant."
"Well, the men at the timber camp will miss your cookin' but that's a good
idea."
"Mister Weims, he's not so sure."
"Jest you wait 'til ole Mr. Weims tries Lucy's spaghetti and
meatballs."
"I'm not so sure, Mr. Hoss."
"Well dang it, Bruno, I'll give ya a loan. Ya can pay me back in lunches
and dinners. I reckon I'll come out way ahead," Hoss said rubbing his
belly.
"Maybe you're right, Mr. Hoss," Bruno said laughing. "Maybe I go
back to Mr. Weims. He won't eat me out of house and home."
"Say Bruno, I got a trunk that came this week with clothes and such for
Tony. Wanna take it back to the camp?"
"Sure. Grazie, Mr. Hoss."
"Ya give my best to Lucy and Tony."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
As he drove on to the Ponderosa, Hoss stopped at a small grove of trees. He had
waited long enough to read the letters from Bridget. He resisted the temptation
to read the latest one first and sorted them in order. He sat in the cool shade
and read her chatty letters, filled with stories about Adam's family and her
preparations to come west. The language was simple and honest. There were no
airs. He closed his eyes and pictured her at the kitchen table at the end of
the day, a long strand of her dark hair escaping her bun, her brow wrinkled in
concentration, writing the letter he held in his hands. He sighed when he read
the closing words, "With all my love, Until we are together again, your
loving wife, Bridget." He held it close to his face, smelling the faint
fragrance of the lavender soap she favored. He kissed the letter and carefully
folded it, returning it to the envelope, and put it in the jacket pocket
nearest his heart.
He pulled out Adam’s
letter to read next.
New York, March 10, 1867
Dear Hoss,
I won’t pretend that you have not been missed here, from Bridget, obviously, to
Sara who is hounding me to make the morning coffee as you did, to Amy who
insists that I am no match for you in a game of checkers, to Jacob who leans
back and rubs his belly in a perfect imitation of you, to me, who misses your warm
and brotherly counsel. I look to you to ground me when I am too “high falutin’”
for my own good.
Bridget has settled into your room. She and Sara are busy with planning her
move to the Ponderosa and the wedding. I have been working on the plans for your
house as you requested. Bridget made some changes that I admit improved the
plan. She wants the kitchen enlarged and would like a small back porch leading
to a vegetable garden. She insists that you should have a study like mine.
I am interviewing students for the summer program. I have the dean's approval
to select two students. You met Peter Mills in my office. His father has a coal
mining operation in
Sam gave his lecture about the
The district attorney and the police are pursuing the case on this end. Fuller
is acting as a go-between for the
I hope that all is well with Tony and that the Santini’s have accepted him.
Give my love to Pa and Joe.
Your affectionate brother,
Adam
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While Jacob napped, Sara
and Bridget worked in the sewing room stitching and embroidering pillowcases,
sheets and other linens for Bridget’s trousseau.
“We’ll just have to
order you a Singer machine,” Sara commented. “I don’t know how we could
manage all of this without one.”
Bridget nodded.
“It does make things easier. I was never patient with sewing.”
“You’ll need at least
three sets of linens. Hoss won’t ever notice, but it is nice to have
clean sheets every week,” Sara said as she knotted and snipped a thread.
“This weekend we’ll ask Adam to watch the children and we’ll go shopping for
fine cloth and lace and trimmings for nightgowns and robes.”
“But I have nightdresses
that are just fine.”
“Oh Bridget, I want you
to look your very best. The mercantile and dressmakers in
Bridget wiped her eyes
and shook her head. “Can’t cry and sew at the same time.”
“Oh sweetie, you are a sister now.”
“Do you think I’ll fit in all right?”
“Of course you will, Hoss will see to that.”
“It’s just, well, it’ll be so different,” she said haltingly. “And Mr.
Cartwright, I’m scared of what he’ll think of me.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s had practice with having a daughter-in-law.,,,though I
admit I was pretty apprehensive when I first traveled out west.”
“You were?”
“Sure. Adam can be daunting enough sometimes, I was nervous about his father.
He is an impressive man with a deep resonant voice. He looks stern but he has a
big heart and a genuine appreciation of women,” Sara said and paused a moment.
“But I'll tell you a secret, Bridget, he gets all marshmallowy inside when it
comes to Amy and Jacob. This imposing man is at his happiest cuddling a child
in his lap and singing nonsense songs.”
“And Joe? I hear that he teases something fierce.”
“Well yes, he can be rascally but he’s never mean. He only teases those he
loves. And he loves his family best.”
“But, it’s all so masculine there,” Bridget sighed. “Even the housekeeper is a
man.”
“There’s no doubt that Ponderosa can do with a gentling woman’s touch, Bridget,
and we’ll do that together this summer.” Sara patted her sister-in-law on the
shoulder. “Now, let’s look at these patterns for nightdresses. I think it’s
always nice to have a crepe de chine gown. Silk feels so luxurious and drapes
well. See, we can get some oyster colored cloth and pink silk ribbon to tie it
closed at the neck,” she said as she showed Bridget the illustration from
Godey’s.
Bridget frowned at the high neckline.
“Of course, we can alter the neckline a bit and continue the lacing lower.”
Bridget raised her eyebrow.
Sara smiled slyly and they both laughed.
“Sara, when you’re in bed….well, does Adam always start…you know.”
“No! Sometimes I let him think he does. I let my hair fall loose and wear a
silky gown, or I’ll give him backrub,” she grinned. “Thank heavens for sore
backs!”
At that moment a hungry Jacob let out a scream from the nursery and Sara left
to tend to him. Bridget finished a pillowcase hem, then knotted the thread and
snipped it. The clock struck three and she needed to go fetch Amy from school.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bleary-eyed after
reading his students’ chicken scratches in their blue essay books, Adam yawned
as he settled back into the pillows. He pinched the bridge of his nose,
fighting drifting off into sleep, while he waited for Sara to come to bed.
Sara rose from the
steamy rose-scented bathwater and toweled herself dry. She put on the
silk nightdress Adam had given her for Christmas and left the lacing undone.
Damp wispy curls strayed from her pinned hair. She examined herself in
the mirror and smiled as she removed the pins remembering her conversation with
Bridget. Her hair cascaded in soft waves down her back.
Adam was on his side
softly snoring when she climbed into bed. She dimmed the gaslight and kissed
him on the forehead, brushing away an errant curl. Then she lay on her
back against the pillows. Not fully awake, he mumbled a good night and
wrapped his leg around her.
“Sweetheart,” she said
softly. “Adam, you’ve got me pinned down.”
“Huh?”
“Move your leg.”
“Oh, sorry,” he
said.
Resigned that he was too
sleepy for her attentions, she turned on her side and nestled closer to him. He
breathed in the lingering scent of roses and kissed her behind the ear.
The soft silk felt good against his bare chest. He put his hand at her
waist and sighed. She took his hand and moved it up to the opened lacings
of her nightdress. He slipped his hand in and caressed her breast.
He was waking up to her advances and smiled. He propped himself up on one
elbow and whispered in her ear, “Do we need the French letters?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hoss waited for Joe to
leave the ranch Sunday morning before he mentioned his plans to his father.
“Maybe I’ll join you,
son, it’s been a long while since we’ve gone fishing.”
“Now Pa, face it, ya
never really liked fishin’, besides Roy and me need to talk.”
“Hoss?”
“Oh ya know
Ben smiled and nodded.
Hoss stepped down from
the saddle and hobbled his horse. “They look mighty good,
The two friends sat in
the warm late morning sun and fished in companionable silence. They added
trout to the string until there were a dozen fish. They put the string
back in the water to keep them cool.
“Not even you can eat
all them fish, Hoss. We should quit.”
Hoss patted his stomach
and nodded. “I ‘spose yer right, Roy. Say, Hop Sing made us some
lunch. Want some?”
“Sure. Let’s go in
the shade.”
They ate the chicken and
biscuits Hop Sing had packed while Hoss filled
“Well, Hoss, the law
says ya gotta work a claim at least one day a month. So I rode up there
to see if’n anyone was around. I found their sign but there ain’t been
much work done up there. Jonah told me jest to keep an eye on the site.”
“Yep, we’re ‘sposed to
lay low and be quiet about it fer now,” Hoss answered. “Ya ever seen that
Bat Thomas man?”
“Not that I can swear
to. Adam wrote that Sam Clemens says he’s a real dandy, silk suits and
gold watch and fob, has a real penchant fer champagne. I guess I won’t
mistake him fer a regular miner when he shows up in town.”
Hoss roared. “No,
I guess not
“Ya gonna have some of
that pie, Hoss?”
“You go ahead,
“Hoss Cartwright, yer
sayin’ no to Hop Sing’s pie?”
“Dagnabbit, I promised
Bridget I’d wear my new suit for the wedding. I’m like to starve to death
before she gets here.” He frowned and rubbed his belly.
“What a man’ll do for
love, Hoss,” he said shaking his head. “What we do for love. Ya got a
picture of her?”
Hoss pulled out his
wallet and showed
“She’s mighty pretty,
Hoss. That the suit?” Hoss nodded in reply. “Well, she’s
worth bein’ hungry for, you’ll see.”
“I know,” Hoss thought
remembering his wedding night. “I surely know. Two more months.”
xxxxxxxxxx
"Ya shoulda seen him, Hoss. Big man, bigger'n you. Flame red hair and bushy
side-whiskers, shiny silk suit, velvet vest, and one of them big stovepipe
hats. And he walks up to the bar and orders a champagne cocktail." Joe
broke into a fit of laughter with the mention of the sugary, ladies' drink.
"I tell ya, ya coulda knocked Roscoe over with a feather."
Hoss looked at Roy, who nodded slightly.
"So, the man says 'Nevermind, just bring me a bottle of your best
champagne.' Roscoe sends over to the International for a bottle."
"Ya catch this fella's name, Joe?"
"Brett? Bart?" Joe clicked his fingers. "Bat! Bat Thomas."
"Strange name," Ben said.
"Strange man, Pa, but a what a card sharp! He was ahead a thousand dollars
when I left. Easy."
"And how much of that money was yours, Joseph?"
"None of it,
Ben arched his eye in disbelief.
"Really,
"You're probably right, son."
"He say how long he is stayin', Joe,"
"Said he had a little mining venture he needed to tend to."
"He's not gonna be too popular with the men in the saloons with the girls
all hanging around that poker table. And he was handing out gold pieces when
they poured his champagne."
"Any gal is particular?"
"Lily. He had her in his lap when I left."
"Yep, I smell some trouble brewin',"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That night before he turned down the lamp, Hoss retrieved the photograph from
the drawer in his bed table. This picture he had not shared with anyone. Like
the carte de visit that he carried in his wallet, this photograph was taken at
the Brady studio in
"Good night, darlin'. I miss you so much."
He placed the photograph under the lining paper where no one would see it and
went to bed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On his early morning rounds
"Mornin', Lily."
"Oh, Sheriff Coffee, ya scared me."
"Early mornin' or late night?"
"What a night! I got one heck of a champagne headache this mornin' but it
was worth it. That fancy man, Bat Thomas, gave me a hundred dollar tip!"
"Whew!"
"He wants to take me up to his mine. Promised me five hundred dollars to
bring champagne and a picnic lunch. Sheriff, with that much cash I could
finally leave this town and go to
"You be careful, Lily. Somethin' about that man surely bothers me."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The sun was bright and
Sheriff Coffee stood for a few moments at the swinging doors to the Bucket of
Blood waiting for his eyes to adjust.
“What can I do fer ya?”
Roscoe asked.
“Lookin’ for Lily,”
“Yer not the only
one. Took off two days ago to go on some picnic with that fancy man, Bat
Thomas, and ain’t been back.”
“I take it that he ain’t
been back either.”
“Nope. Hank got a
telegram to pick up the wagon he rented at
“Thanks, Roscoe.”
From the saloon,
“Darn fool girl.”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Hoss, I ain’t seen ya
in more than a month,”
“Been roundin’ up the
herd and bringing ‘em down to the low pastures. We were mighty lucky this
year, lost a dozen steers. Plenty of calves to make up for that and then
some.” Hoss removed his coat and pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his
face.
“Still on short rations,
I see.”
“Hard to eat regular
meals when you’re doin’ a roundup, then calvin’ and brandin’.”
“Ya look good,
Hoss. That gal of yours sure must be somethin’ fer ya to go hungry.”
“She is,
“That reminds me,
Hoss. Jonah got a telegram from Adam last week. Bat Thomas is in
“What’s he doin’ in
“Collectin’ his stock
money, I reckon. I ‘spect they got him on a short leash right now.”
“Hope they get enough on
him to hang ‘im by that leash.”
“Prob’bly.
“”Say,
“They have steak?”
“Prob’bly. I jest know
I’m powerful hungry right now. Join me?”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For the next two weeks
trunks and crates were delivered to the Ponderosa. Joe rode in to find
yet another oversized trunk on the porch.
“You’d think we don’t
have stores out here the way those women are shopping,” Joe complained as he
and his father dragged the trunk into the house. They’d wait for Hoss to
open it before deciding where to store it.
“Now Joe,” his father
cautioned, “I think we can stand to make some concessions to the ladies in our
family.”
“Concessions?
They’re gonna make this house over into a ladies emporium. I jest
know we’re gonna have dollies and lace curtains in here.”
“Have you considered
that Bridget and Hoss are going to build a house of their own? The
doilies may be for their house,” Ben said with a sly smile.
“I can jest see Hoss
sittin’ on a settee with doilies, drinkin’ milky tea. That’s a laugh.
Next you’ll say she’ll teach ‘im to hold his pinky out jest so,” Joe teased
holding his hand out to demonstrate.
“Your brother doesn’t
acquiesce so easily.”
“Oh yeah, Pa? When
did ya ever know big old Hoss Cartwright to stay on a diet?”
“Well, you’re right
about that, Joseph. He certainly has been diligent. He looks
good. I’m sure that Bridget will be pleased.”
“I know that Chubb sure
is!”
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
That evening Hoss opened
the trunk to find silk nightdresses and underclothes. He held up one of
the nightdresses and rubbed the silk between two fingers. He had never
felt anything as soft and luxurious as that. He looked up to see his
father gazing at him.
“We’ll put that trunk in
Adam’s old room. Hop Sing is preparing it for Bridget.”
“There’s no need fer that.
We’ll put it in my room.”
Ben’s raised his eyebrow
in disapproval.
“Pa, there’s somethin’ I
ain’t told ya yet that maybe I should.”
Joe looked up from the
newspaper. He wriggled into a more erect position sensing whatever Hoss had to
say was going to get a rise out of his father.
“Well, Pa, it’s jest
before I left
“Didn’t ya trust her to
come out here?” Joe asked.
“Course I did,” Hoss
said. “We got married ‘cause we love each other.”
“And your brother?”
“He was the best man.”
“You all can really keep
a secret,” Ben said and sighed in relief.
“I got somethin’ to show
ya.” He went upstairs and returned with the photographs of the wedding
party.
“Ya look a little scared
in this one, Hoss,” Joe teased. “Must have been before the wedding night.”
“Enough, Joseph.
Go get a bottle of champagne from the cellar. We’ve got a toast to make
that’s long overdue.”
While Joe retrieved the
bottle, Ben put his arm around Hoss’s shoulders and squeezed them.
“Congratulations, son. I’m happy for you, though I may have a word or two
to say to your brother Adam.”
“Glad that’s over with,”
Hoss said. “Two more weeks,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Epilogue
Hoss sat finishing his
lunch in the Santini’s new restaurant facing the Wells Fargo stagecoach
office. Adam had wired from
“Ya done, Mr.
Hoss? We got lots more in the kitchen,” Tony asked.
“It sure was delicious,
son, but I’m done.” His red checkered napkin had been tucked into
the open neck of his clean white shirt. He removed it and wiped his
mouth. “What’s that called again?”
“Lasagna, and Mama makes
the best there is.”
Hoss grinned
widely. It had been three months since Tony left
“I bet she does.”
Lucia walked out from
the kitchen to greet Hoss. He stood and kissed her on the cheek.
“Buongiorno, Lucy.”
“Buongiorno, Mr. Hoss,”
She said as she looked at the empty plate. “What is wrong with you? Just
one ‘little’ helping of my lasagna?”
Hoss sighed and rubbed
his slimmer torso. Back in New York Bridget had gently teased him about
the size of his belly. For the three months he endured everyone’s nagging about
his appetite and diet. It was worth it. He was twenty pounds lighter.
This morning he tried on his white silk shirt and it billowed at his
waist. He adjusted the vest to a tighter fit. He buttoned the
coat and admired himself in the mirror. It fit perfectly. He knew Bridget
would be pleased.
“I’m gettin’ married,
Lucy. Gotta look good in my suit fer the weddin’.”
“The girl that you
marry, Mr. Hoss, is a lucky girl. You look mighty handsome,” Lucy said as she
grabbed him in a hug. Hoss blushed. “Mind you, don’t get too
skinny. It don’t suit you. Big men like you need meat on your
bones. Don’t get skinny like your brother Joe.”
“When’s Bridget gettin’
here?” Tony asked.
“As a matter of fact,”
he said as he looked at the clock on the mantle in the dining room, “they’re
due in anytime now.”
“They’ll be
hungry. Bring them over here before you leave town.”
“I’ll do that,
Lucy.” He tipped his hat as he left to wait for the stage on the bench
across the street. Tony hung his apron in the kitchen and soon joined
Hoss.
“Is Amy comin’ today?”
“She is. Adam,
Sara and Jacob, too. Do ya miss her?”
“I wanna show her how I
can ride that pony of mine. Maybe we can race.”
“Adam might have
somethin’ to say about that, Tony. Sara might not want her little girl to
race.” Hoss put his big hand on Tony’s shoulder. Three months, and
the little newsboy from
Tony spotted the
stagecoach first. Hoss stood to watch the driver rein the horses and stop the
stagecoach at his feet. He took a deep breath and smiled as he let it out
slowly. The door opened and Bridget stood ready to step down.
“Oh lordy, darlin’, you
look so good to me,” Hoss said as he grabbed her around the waist and lifted
her into his arms. He spun her around. She threw her head back
laughing in delight. “I can’t tell ya how much I missed ya.”
He put her down and
gathered her in his arms to kiss her. They were in their own world, time
stood still and no witnesses were there to see them. Three months of
separation were erased in a moment’s time.
She leaned back and took
a deep breath to calm herself. She pulled him closer to her and
wrapped her arms around his waist. “Oh Hoss Cartwright, this is where I
belong. Let me look at you. You’re a mighty fine sight for sore
eyes, you great big handsome man.”