One Thing Led to Another

By Ella

I’m not making excuses, Pa. I want you to know that, right from the start. But you see, one thing led to another and – No, that’s not the right way to put it. It makes it sound like I let things get out of control.

Adam Cartwright held the reins of the team, but the horses seemed to know their master’s mind was elsewhere. They took the left fork in the road and continued homeward, without any direction from the young man too lost in his thoughts to notice.

Hmmm. This sounds a little better. He spoke aloud this time, trying out the words. "Pa, something happened when I went into town today that I thought you should know about. It’s going to come as a bit of a surprise to you, but I’m sure you’ll agree with me that sometimes things don’t go exactly as we plan. It could have happened to anyone."

Adam came out of his playacting long enough to glance at the horizon, then shook his head. I’ll be real lucky if I get home before the sun is down. I promised to be home before noon. This really isn’t going to help my argument one bit. Flicking the reins, he encouraged the horses to pick up their pace. What was I thinking, letting Isabella talk me into that picnic?

The buckboard rumbled on ahead, but Adam drifted backward in time, to early that morning when he entered the Orowitz’s store….

~~~~~~~~

Ruth brightened at the voice bidding her good morning as she looked up from some papers she was shuffling through on the counter. ‘Why, Adam, good morning. You must have heard my thoughts.’

Taking off his hat, the young man gave her an inquisitive look. ‘Ma’am?’

Waving a hand over the pages before her, the storekeeper explained, ‘This correspondence. It came in this morning by way of a traveler. I’ve read it several times, but I can’t make any sense of it. Eli has gone to Hangtown, to pick up a special load of supplies, you see, and so I opened it. Now I wish I’d saved it for his return. But it was marked URGENT and I thought it best to take care of it myself.’

Tugging off his black leather gloves, Adam smiled reassuringly. ‘I’ll be happy to read it over, Mrs. Orowitz, if you want me to.’

Relief smoothed the extra wrinkles from the woman’s brow. ‘Oh, yes. Thank you, Adam.’ She handed him the papers then moved away to help the customer who had just entered the trading post. When she returned, Adam appeared to be almost as puzzled as she had been moments earlier.

‘Adam?’

Adam looked up, glanced back at the papers, then shook his head as he met Ruth’s worried eyes. Gesturing at the pages he confided, ‘Mrs. Orowitz, this is going to sound strange, but there must be another Orowitz Trading Post in the territory.’

‘What? But how can that be?’

‘Ma’am, this correspondence doesn’t seem to have anything to do with you and your husband. It’s all about furs and some sort of missed contract deadline. Apparently this other Orowitz Trading Post had a quota to meet and their deadline was nearly three months ago. As best as I can figure, they didn’t deliver the goods as promised. But unless you and Mr. Orowitz have suddenly gotten into the beaver pelt market, I think you need to send these papers back to the return address on the wrapping, with a note saying they were delivered to you by mistake.’

Grabbing Adam’s hand, Ruth squeezed it gratefully. ‘Thank you, Adam. What you say does make sense and it’s such a relief off my shoulders. I’ve enough on my mind, just running the store alone, without this.’ She shook the papers in emphasis. ‘I’ll write that note this evening after I close up. Then it will be ready when Bart Watkins comes through tomorrow. I’ll have him see to getting it on its way back to this W. Holmes in New Orleans.’

With a warm smile, Adam nodded. ‘I’m glad to have been of help.’ Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out Pa’s list.

Ruth accepted it with a big smile of her own. ‘Let me get right to filling this so you can be on your way.’ She glanced passed him toward the entrance, adding mysteriously, ‘Then again, you might not be in too much of a hurry to go now.’

Adam turned. His face glowed when the young woman in the doorway mirrored his smile. Ruth’s eyes sparkled as she watched him rush forward.

‘Isabella.’

Tongue-tied for several seconds, Isabella moved the couple steps to meet Adam half way, her own eyes shinning. ‘Oh, Adam. I did not expect to see you this morning. How did you manage to get into town so soon?’

Adam leaned forward to whisper, ‘Since Hoss and I both wanted to come in, Pa made us draw for it. We use matches, you see, but thanks to a little trick I picked up from Big Dan, I won.’ He glanced around, noticing several attentive sets of ears. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to Isabella, promising quietly, ‘I’ll fill you later, though I don’t suppose you’ll ever find yourself in a position to make use of it.’

When she looked back at him in confusion, Adam laughed gently. ‘Oh, never mind. But how is it you are also here? Surely, Mrs. Greene isn’t out of supplies already?’

Shaking her head, the young woman sighed. ‘No, but I convinced her we needed more canned peaches. I just had to get away. She and Tess have been having words and I needed some peace.’

‘I know exactly how you feel – about needing some peace sometimes. Though my father would never allow us to speak to him the way Mrs. Greene lets Tess ... still, sometimes … well … it’s nice to steal away for some quiet.’

Again, the girl sighed. ‘Oh, if only we could steal away and have some peace together. Her dark eyes grew rounder with the thought. ‘A picnic would be nice, don’t you think?’

Adam nodded. ‘Well … yes … but … we have no food prepared.’

Isabella’s eyes shifted back and forth as she worked out this detail. ‘Well … we … we could fish … and … um … perhaps…’

Mrs. Orowitz could stay silent no longer. She rounded the counter and joined the couple.

‘Adam, Isabella, I couldn’t help but overhear. Why, I have some leftover chicken and some extra cookies from the basket I prepared for Eli to take with him this very morning. You two can take that for your picnic. I’ll throw in some apples, to make it complete.’ Isabella started to shake her head, but Ruth reached out a hand, squeezing her arm. ‘I insist. It is my way of thanking Adam, for his help this morning. Really, it would make me very happy if you say yes.’

Adam inclined his head. ‘Thank you, Mrs. Orowitz. That’s very kind of you. We’re happy to accept your generous offer.’

‘Oh, yes ma’am. Thank you,’ Isabella agreed. ‘That will be perfect.’

Moments later, the two were out on the boardwalk, with a blanket and picnic basket as well as a jar of lemonade Ruth whipped up to go with their meal. Leaving the buckboard to be loaded with Pa’s supplies, the pair got into Mrs. Greene’s buggy.

No sooner had they pulled away from the post, however, than Adam began shaking his head in disapproval.

‘Adam? What’s the matter? Did we forget something?’

Heaving a sigh, Adam turned to her, his forehead a mass of wrinkles. ‘Isabella, you know how Carlos feels about us being alone. This is sure to get back to him. He’ll complain to Pa and suddenly I’ll find myself feeling like a little boy again with my father chewing my ear off for being irresponsible. We should really have a chaperone, and you know it.’

Isabella frowned. ‘Oh, Adam. I trust you to behave like a proper gentleman. And surely, you trust me to act like a lady.’ Her delicate eyebrows arched in emphasis. ‘Do you not?’

Laughing at her expression, Adam answered, ‘Well, of course I do. But what you and I believe about each other has nothing to do with how our actions will be perceived by those who hold on so tightly to proper etiquette. And my father, Mrs. Greene and your brother are at the top of the list, and you know it.’

‘Oh please, Adam. It will just be for a couple of hours.’

Adam looked into her pleading dark eyes and fell into them. It’s impossible to say no. He threw caution to the wind and slipped an arm around her shoulders as he urged the horse ahead. ‘Yes, of course. What could happen in a couple hours?’

~~~~~~~~

Laughing out loud, albeit bitterly, Adam startled the team. "Whoa. Easy." The animals resumed their steady gait and he shook his head. "What could happen in a couple hours? Famous last words. What was I thinking, going off with her that way?" He stretched out a hand toward the horses. "How am I ever going to explain this fiasco to Pa?"

The animals trotted onward, leaving their master to ponder his future. But Adam’s thoughts drifted backward once more ….

~~~~~~~~

Since both of them had made a promise to be home in time for lunch, they agreed that the little pond just outside of town would have to do as their place of retreat, but when they reached it, the water was brimming with young boys – paddling, splashing and shrieking with delight.

Disappointment crawled over Isabella’s face and Adam reached out to squeeze her hand.

‘Never mind.’ He pointed and she followed his finger with hopeful eyes. ‘The creek up ahead is too shallow for swimming. We’ll go there instead. I love the sound of the rushing water, don’t you?’

Her smile returned as she took in the boyish expression on her escort’s face. ‘Oh, yes. It is like beautiful music. That would be wonderful.’

But luck was not with them. A rowdy group of older boys had claimed the area Adam had in mind with their fishing poles. Adam wrapped his arm around Isabella and drew her close, giving the top of her head a quick kiss. Again he urged their horse onward.

‘Never mind. This is a long creek. We’ll ride along this path until we find a place that no one else has staked out yet. We’re going to have that picnic, I promise.’

The burn of his lips in her hair and the feel of his strong arm about her was going to Isabella’s head - and other less sensible parts of her. She pulled away abruptly. Adam dug his fingers into his knee as he mentally scolded himself, then put his mind back on directing the horse. They rode for quite a ways and fairly far into the woods before they found a clearing by the water.

‘There. See? This is perfect, isn’t it?’

The smile on Isabella’s face answered him even before she murmured her agreement. Tossing the reins over the branches of a shrub, Adam hurried around the carriage to extend his hand. Isabella beamed as she accepted it and stepped down. She grabbed the blanket and he took the basket. Soon they were lost in each others’ eyes and conversation as the gently rippling water serenaded them.

‘I have been thinking so much about the Ladies’ Choice dance last week. It was all over so quickly. Tess and I have both been scheming over how we might convince the town to hold a dance every week at our new town hall. But Mrs. Greene said it wouldn’t be so special if we had them so frequently.’ Isabella watched the expression on Adam’s face. He seemed to be hanging on her every word, making her heart beat so fast and hard she was afraid he might see the movement in her dress. She dropped her head, feeling the heat in her cheeks.

Adam reached out and lifted her chin. ‘What is it, Isabella?’ His eyes scoured her face. ‘You’re so beautiful and I love the sound of your voice. Have I embarrassed you, staring at you the way I was just now?’

Eyes widening with surprise, Isabella shook her head, reaching out her hand to his. ‘I thought it was I who was staring.’ A laugh escaped before she could stop it. ‘Perhaps this is when our chaperone would tell us it was time to go home.’

Adam echoed her laughter. ‘Yes.’

‘But I am not ready for our picnic to end, are you?’

Aching to reach out and pull her too him, Adam simply shook his head, all the while devouring her with his eyes, feeling his throat go dry.

Too aware of the mounting tension in her own body, Isabella brightened, suddenly remembering what she’d brought with her from the Greene’s.

‘I have Mr. Orowitz’s book of Shakespeare in the buggy. Would you like to read a bit? You said All’s Well That Ends Well is one of your favorites. Would you read some of your favorite passages to me, Adam?’

A lock of her hair had fallen down near her eyes and Adam reached out to push it back in place. She grabbed his fingers and suddenly they were in each others arms, their lips pressing against each other’s. Adam drew in a sharp breath and they broke apart, both getting to their feet as quickly as possible.

His breathing erratic, Adam stammered, ‘I think … I think maybe we should pick up our picnic and maybe ride for a bit before … before we head back to my wagon in town.’

Isabella concentrated on the wrinkles in her skirt, smoothing them repeatedly. ‘Yes. Yes.’ She nodded with exaggeration. ‘I think you are right.’ She turned toward the buggy and her eyes grew so large, Adam couldn’t help but follow her gaze.

Mrs. Greene's carriage was gone!

Mouth working, Isabella moved her hands frantically, trying to calm herself enough to talk. She finally blurted out, ‘Manuel warned me that that horse has a mind of its own. It must have gotten free. I should have told you to make sure the reins were tied securely. Oh, Adam, it will take forever to walk back to town. What will your father say?’ Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh. What will Carlos say?’

Adam swallowed, then took a swig of the lemonade, to wet his dry throat.

‘Your brother won’t say anything – at least not until he’s slapped my face with the back of his hand. And my father won’t say anything either – at first – because he’ll be too angry to formulate any words.’ Running his fingers through his hair, Adam blew out a sigh, picturing the ugly scene unfolding. ‘Then he’ll start shouting. Don’t worry, you’ll know what he says, because you’ll be able to hear him over at the Greene ranch.’

Taking her hand, he insisted, ‘Come on, we’d better start walking. Maybe if we’re lucky, someone will come along and give us a lift.’

But that was not in fate’s plans. And so they walked, hand-in-hand, and talked about anything and everything, making the most of the togetherness they’d inadvertently created.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, Mrs. Greene’s ranch hand Manuel had been watching from nearby shrubbery. His heart had been burning for the beautiful Isabella since the first day he’d set eyes on her. His blood turned to ice, watching Adam touch her.

Rubbing his hands together, he nodded to himself. ‘Her brother Carlos, he will put a stop to this romance, if he hears of this. Yes. I will go and find Carlos.’ Sneaking away until he was beyond their earshot, he leaped into his saddle and sped toward town, knowing he’d find Carlos at Shelby’s.

As it happened, the couple was discussing Carlos themselves.

‘Well, somehow it all seems a bit unfair.’

‘What do you mean, Adam?’

He stopped, tugging her hand to halt her quick step. He stood on one foot, while he emptied his other boot. ‘Darn stone.’ He put his foot back in the boot and they resumed their walking.

‘Well, on one hand, Carlos insisted you had to be properly chaperoned and yet, at the dance, he suddenly became infatuated with Myra (1). I don’t think he let go of her hand once, the whole time they were together. It didn’t seem to bother him in the least that she was there alone.’

Isabella rolled her eyes. ‘That is my brother for you.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘But, Adam, he is my brother and he does love me. He … he … feels obligated to care for me. Carlos is a man who takes his obligations very seriously. He’s a good man, Adam.’

Again, Adam tugged her hand and made her stop. He took her shoulders and looked into her attentive eyes. ‘Isabella, I know he is. If it weren’t for your brother, I don’t think Pa would have known where to start, to build our ranch. And now we are well on our way to making it a success. We have Carlos to thank for that. I respect your brother and I respect any man who sticks to his principles. My father is such a man, and he respects your brother. More than that, I think.’

Isabella’s eyes softened.

‘My father considers your brother to be like a son. He worries about him as he would a son too, to tell you the truth.’

Frowning, Isabella pressed, ‘Worries? Why? Why is he worrying about Carlos?’

Adam motioned toward a large boulder nearby. ‘Hey, let’s rest a moment. We’ll make better time if we do.’

Eyes still filled with her concern, Isabella nodded absently, and the pair sat to rest.

Taking her hand, Adam explained, ‘Your brother seems ... depressed, Isabella. This whole business with the Greenes living on your original homestead. And even though Pa has pretty much made Carlos part of our family … well … you know how your brother feels about the fact that your family ranch still exists and that someone else is running it now.’

Isabella hung her head, her memories of her childhood days flooding her mind.

Adam squeezed her hand, bringing her back to him. ‘Oh, Isabella, I hate to see you sad. Please … there is nothing to be done about that now. I wish there was a way to make Carlos forget about it and move forward. So does Pa. But – ’

Looking into Adam’s eyes, Isabella pressed her fingers to his lips, shaking her head slightly. ‘Don’t. You must not be … frustrated over things you cannot change. Nor must I. Carlos will have to find a way inside of himself, to get past this.’

She gave a quick shrug of her shoulders. ‘You know, I … I was really rather happy to see him so attentive to Myra at the dance. I … well, I thought maybe … if he found himself a girl … he might redirect his energies ? And … I like Myra. She’s … she’s independent.’ Isabella smiled mischievously, leaning forward slightly. ‘Perhaps working for Shelby has rubbed off on her?’

Adam grinned, as much at the thought, as at the delight in Isabella’s eyes. ‘Yes, Shelby makes an impression – on everyone she meets. And you’re right, Myra does seem to be more independent than many of the girls in Eagle Station. Perhaps that’s just what your brother needs, to make him understand his sister a bit better.’

Isabella rested her head on Adam’s shoulder. She nodded. ‘Yes, I wish he would see that a girl has dreams and hopes too. He does not understand that part of me, I think. All he sees is the proper behavior expected of a woman – or of his little sister, at the very least.’

Straightening his shoulders, Adam declared, ‘Well, between us, we need to make him see. You are a woman now and not just his "little sister." Perhaps, we should talk Myra into going on a picnic with us and Carlos some day soon?’

Isabella giggled. ‘Adam Cartwright, I think you are plotting against my brother.’

Standing, Adam pulled Isabella to her feet. ‘For you, my lady. For you.’

Again, the pair found themselves in each others arms, kissing so passionately, they nearly lost their footing. A gunshot to the air over their heads sent them reeling backward. Foot catching in her skirt, Isabella tumbled to the ground, landing rather hard on her seat. Adam stumbled backward in the opposite direction, tripping over a large rock, sending him down on his backside as well. Shooting to his feet, fists clenched, he glared at the man towering over them on horseback.

‘Carlos! Are you out of your mind?’

‘It appears, Adam, it is you who is out of his mind. Otherwise, you would know that what you are doing here with my sister is completely against all tradition and all good sense. If it were not for the fact that you are like a brother to me, I would have shot you clean through your head.’

Struggling to stand, Isabella scolded sharply, ‘Carlos! This is the man that I love. If you were to shoot him, I would NEVER forgive you. Do you understand me?’

Dismounting, Carlos moved to stand in front of her, his back to an incensed Adam.

‘Little sister, I am only thinking of – ’

Isabella bristled. ‘No, you are not. Because if your were, you would realize that I have my own feelings, my own wishes, my own …’ she hesitated to speak the words, then stood a little straighter, finishing, ‘my own needs.’

Eyes narrowing, Carlos turned on his heel, and swung with the full force of his arm to slap Adam’s cheek with the back of his hand, sending Adam to the ground to land on his backside.

Glowering upward, Adam rubbed his already purpling flesh with his fingers. When he finally spoke, he met the other man’s eyes, his tone deadly.

‘I deserved the back of your hand, for my indiscretion, but I am insulted by the thoughts running through your head just now. I am going to get to my feet. And if you hit me again, we are going to have a fight that will leave us both more than bruised. That’s a promise, Carlos – make no mistake.’

Isabella jumped in between them. ‘No. You will not fight over this.’ She pressed her hands to her brother’s chest. ‘And you put away that gun, this instant!’ Her eyes cut through him in a way he’d never seen before. ‘Carlos, I mean it. You will put that gun away and we will call you and Adam even, here and now. He and I should not be here alone. But it is as much my fault as it is his. You must believe that.’

Her eyes softened as she reminded him, ‘The other night, you and Myra, I saw how you looked at her and how she looked at you. You were enjoying yourself, for the first time in too long. You were experiencing the feelings of man and woman.’ Her eyes bore into his. ‘Weren’t you?’

Carlos licked his lips and swallowed hard, eyes shifting briefly to Adam as he remembered the heat in his blood that night. He’d left early, afraid of just what he might want to do with the young woman who was no older than his little sister. He felt shame, in fact, at the thoughts in his head. And yet, when Myra saw him on the street the other day, she’d called out to him and he went to her. With Shelby’s blessing, the two of them had taken a short ride together on his horse. Afterwards, Myra made him promise to take her to the next dance, whenever it might be and Carlos couldn’t refuse her. There was something special about her – something that touched a part of him he’d forgotten existed.

Eyes finding Isabella’s, Carlos nodded slowly. ‘Yes, my little sister, you are right in your assessment of my … my feelings for Myra and hers for me. I – ’ again his eyes briefly found Adam’s before returning to his sister’s. ‘I do understand what has happened here today.’ He rubbed his hand over his chin, eyes shifting from Isabella to Adam, back to his sister once more. ‘But I am sorry, I cannot agree that you and Adam share the blame equally.’

‘Carlos – ’

Raising his hand sharply, Carlos continued, ‘The man, in this case, must take the responsibility for how he acts with a woman, whether or not she shares his feelings. No matter if it was your idea or his, to come out here today, he should have put his foot down and forbid it. He did not.

And so, I will give you a ride back to the Greene ranch.’ He looked sternly at Adam. ‘It will be Adam’s problem to find his way back to town, and then go home and explain all this to his father. I am sure Ben will be able to back up my words – with many more of his own. Or, if necessary, in other terms his son can understand.’

Mouth dropping open, Isabella turned to Adam, but the young man, still on the ground, shook his head and waggled a hand, to fend off any objections.

‘Carlos is right, Isabella. It was up to me to say no and I didn’t. And he’s right about my father too. He will most assuredly make his objections clear, in terms I can understand.’ He shook his head, considering all the possibilities and knowing there might well be some he wasn’t even able to imagine. He managed to give the worried girl a small smile.

‘Go on with Carlos now. And maybe, if we are both lucky, I’ll see you again, before the two of us are old and gray.’

Carlos didn’t give his sister time to say or do anything more. He tossed her up on his horse, then mounted up behind her. He turned his horse in the direction of Margaret Greene’s ranch and it kicked clumps of grass in Adam’s face as it obeyed its master and galloped away.

Adam groaned, brushing the debris from his jacket as he got to his feet. His feet. He glared down at them.

‘Don’t let me down. You and I have a long walk.’

~~~~~~~~

The clippity-clop of the team’s hooves brought Adam back to present and he breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the ranch in the distance. His relief was short-lived. Even from this distance he could make out the figure of his father, hands on hips, temper no doubt surging, now that he knew his son was safely home.

Adam let out a heavier sigh, shaking his head as he spoke to the team. "When will I learn, fellas? When will I learn?"

If only he had ears as big as the horses’, Adam might have heard his father’s comment echoing back at him:

"When will he learn, Carlos? When will he learn?"

THE END.

(April 2006)

(1) Reference to the Ponderosa episode "Brother Against Brother."