Larkspur and Vickie Batzka once again assisted me by reading draft copies of this story and offering suggestions to improve it as well as catching my errors. I owe them my heartfelt thanks.

“The Marriage of True Minds”

Part 3

by Deborah Grant

October 2004

Chapter 1

Ben Cartwright felt his firstborn’s arms embrace him and his normally imperturbable son’s voice was choked with emotion as he said, “It’s so good to see you again, Pa.” Just then, the impatient voice of Ben’s ten-year-old grandson could be heard distinctly.

“But I wanna see Grandpa!”

“And Grandpa wants to see you,” Ben called, smiling at his son, who moved just slightly to one side, keeping a hand on Ben’s shoulder. A.C. ran into the great room, tall and skinny just as his father had been at the same age, with the same dimpled grin.

He stopped short of Ben and Adam and, suddenly self-conscious, said, “G’day, Grandpa,” in a subdued tone but Ben held out his arms for a hug and the child went to him without hesitation.

“You’ve grown so much since the last time I saw you. I think you’re taller than your father was when he was ten,” Ben said, resting a hand on his grandson’s shoulder, and was rewarded by another happy grin. You have your mama’s gregarious and demonstrative nature, Ben thought, giving his grandson’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze. He looked up and saw his granddaughter, Gwyneth, framed in the doorway, looking lovelier and more poised than the girl he remembered. She smiled shyly, showing that she had also inherited her father’s dimple—along with his reserve.

“G’day, Grandpa,” she said in her soft, melodious voice before hugging him gently. She moved to stand by her father, and Ben saw his oldest grandchild for the first time since her wedding five years earlier. Beth was as ravishingly beautiful as ever with her enormous hazel eyes under delicately arched brows, perfectly proportioned nose, full lips that begged to be kissed and dimpled chin. A young child with golden-brown hair and soft, doe-eyes held her right hand, while a younger child with thick raven hair and enormous chocolate-brown eyes clutched her left.

Beth hunkered down so she was eye level with her babies and said quietly, “This is your Great-grandpa. Can you go give him a kiss?” Shy Elen hung back but Huw toddled over on his chubby legs.

Adam was concerned about Pa bending over, so he scooped up his grandson saying, “Pa-pa will hold you so you can give Great-grandpa a kiss.” Huw placed a resounding smack on Ben’s weathered check, and then overcome with shyness, he buried his face in his grandpa’s neck. Ben held up one gnarled hand and gently stroked the little boy’s silky hair, remembering how soft Adam’s hair had been at that same age.

Watching her younger brother had given Elen courage and now she ran toward Ben. Smiling, Gwyneth said, “I’ll hold you up,” and she lifted her little niece and held her so she could kiss Ben’s cheek. Even further emboldened, Elen said, “G’day, geat-ganpa,” before dimpling.

Ben smiled at her saying, “Good day to you, Elen. I see you have your grandpa’s dimple.” He reached out and cupped her soft cheek in his palm before turning to hug Beth. “Motherhood certainly agrees with you, Beth dear. I think you are even lovelier, although that hardly seems possible.” He saw her flawless milky-white complexion flush with color.

“Grandpa, you’re going to make me vain,” she scolded with a smile, and hugged him again before moving to stand by her little brother. Ben saw his daughter-in-law then, her violet eyes as beguiling as ever, and held out his arms to her. He hugged her tightly before greeting her parents.

“How wonderful to see you again, Llywelyn and Siân,” he stated with a warm, welcoming smile. “What do you think of the Ponderosa?”

“As our grandson would say, ‘What a ripper!’” Dr. Davies replied, returning Ben’s smile and shaking his proffered hand. “Adam tells us we only saw a small portion of the station, uh, I mean ranch, as we drove here.”

“That’s true. My sons and I worked hard to make the Ponderosa the largest and most successful ranch in Nevada,” Ben replied with justifiable pride.

“You mean in the entire West,” Joe contradicted from the doorway. “I told them the most beautiful sight on the whole ranch is Lake Tahoe.”

“If tomorrow is as beautiful as today, I thought maybe we could have a picnic there,” Adam said hesitantly, for now he wasn’t sure if Pa would be up to a trip to the lake.

Ben saw his concern and said gently, “If you’ll drive the Davies and me in the buggy, I think a picnic would be a wonderful idea, son. In fact.” he added with a grin, “since none of you have been on horseback for a month, I suggest we all ride there in the surrey.” With a rueful smile, Adam concurred.

“I wanna see the cabin,” A.C. announced.

“Sure,” Joe replied. “We fixed it up so it’ll be ready for Miranda and William.”

“Can I stay there with ‘em?” A.C. asked, not understanding why all the adults were suddenly choked with laughter.

“No, I’m afraid not, Jackeroo,” Adam said, trying unsuccessfully to keep a straight face. He saw the scheming look on his son’s face and spoke more firmly, “Adam Stoddard Cartwright, Jr., you are to keep away from the cabin while Miranda and William are here. Do you understand?”

“I bet they wouldn’t care,” the boy replied sullenly.

“Oh yes they would,” his parents, grandparents, sisters and uncle said simultaneously, which made him blink in surprise.

“A.C. bach, when a man and women first marry, they want to have time alone together,” Bronwen explained.

“Why?” he asked and was surprised when his mama and mam-gu’s faces got red. Even Beth and Gwyneth turned very pink. “Oh, you mean they want to kiss and stuff,” he said suddenly.

“That’s right,” Adam said quickly to forestall any further discussions of stuff. “Now, I want your word that you won’t go to the cabin while Miranda and William are here.”

“Right. I mean, yes, sir. I promise that I won’t go when they’re here. But can I go tomorrow?”

“Everyone who wants may go tomorrow,” Adam agreed.

Just then two of the hands entered the house carrying Beth’s trunk. “’Scuse me, Boss, but which room does this trunk go in?” one asked. Adam tried not to look surprised as he realized that the man was addressing his younger brother, rather than their father, when he said “Boss”.

“That depends on whose trunk it is,” Joe said. “I recognized Adam and Bronwen’s, but that’s all.”

“It’s mine,’ Beth said so Joe added, “Take it to Hoss’s room, Jacob.”

Ben said to Beth, “We’re putting you and the little ones in his old room,” and she smiled and squeezed his hand. “We brought the crib down from the attic although from what Adam once wrote, I imagine Huw may prefer to sleep in the bed with you and Elen.” He smiled, adding, “As you remember, it’s a pretty big bed.” Beth nodded, wishing she could recall something of the large, gentle uncle who had inhabited that room and whom her daddy had always spoken of with deep affection. He’d often told her how much Uncle Hoss had loved her and Miranda and called them his Sweet Peas.

“Wanna see where we sleep,” Elen demanded so Beth said, “I think I should go up and get them settled. They really need to take a ‘n-a-p’.”

“Would you like some help?” Mrs. Davies asked and Beth nodded gratefully.

“A.C., you wanna help unload the buckboard?” Joe asked.

“He can’t lift the trunks,” Bronwen said worriedly as A.C. rolled his eyes in embarrassment.

“No, but he knows which trunk is your parents and which is Gwyneth’s and he can carry the valise,” Joe replied, reaching over and tousling his nephew’s mop of black hair. Adam realized his son needed to pay a visit to the barber. In fact, what was left of his own curly hair was badly in need of a trim. Saturday they would make a trip into Carson City so their hair would be nice and neat for church.

“Oh, the valise has Huw’s nappies and I’ll need it,” Beth said from the stairs.

While Joe and A.C. went to help with the luggage, Ben eased into his favorite leather chair by the immense fireplace, his aching joints forgotten as he drank in the sight of his family. “Tomorrow evening my old friend Paul Martin is coming to dine with us,” Ben stated. “He’s also a doctor. He removed more bullets and sewed up more wounds on my three boys than I care to remember.”

“Fortunately, I never had to deal with any bullet wounds in my practice,” Dr. Davies said, “but I’ve sewn my fair share of stitches. Adam has spoken very highly of Dr. Martin and Bronwen said he did an excellent job setting her collarbone when she had her riding accident. I look forward to meeting him.”

Ben smiled and then said wistfully, “I envy you and Siân since you’ll be able to see our granddaughter graduate. Third in her class,” he added proudly.

“But you got to see her graduate from the Girls Latin School as salutatorian and I couldn’t leave my practice to attend that,” Dr. Davies replied calmly. “And we’ll all get to see her marry. Since you’re the only one of us to have met her betrothed, why don’t you tell us about him.”

“William is a fine young man,” Ben assured them. “He’s very intelligent and he is also very self-assured; he doesn’t have any need to impress others by flaunting his education. He’s also open-minded. Lots of Easterners come out here and look down their noses at our way of life. Not William. I remember the second day he was here he went to town and bought himself a pair of waist overalls and a plain cotton shirt so he would fit in.” He grinned before adding with a chuckle, “I do think he was surprised and a bit chagrinned to realize Miranda is a better rider than he is. However, he survived that blow to his manly pride.”

“Wait until he sees Gwyneth on horseback,” Adam said and she blushed slightly.

“I haven’t been riding in such a long time,” she said regretfully.

“It’ll come back to you,” her grandpa said with a smile.

Joe and one of the hands entered then with the Davies’ trunk and overhearing the last part of the conversation, Joe said, “Duchess is in the corral if you’d like to take her for a short ride.” Seeing his older brother’s expression Joe added quickly, “As soon as we get the trunks upstairs, I could ride with her.”

A.C. was right behind Joe, carrying Beth’s valise, and said quickly, ““I wanna ride. I have my own horse now, Uncle Joe.”

“So I heard,” Joe replied grinning at his nephew as he headed toward the stairs. “Got some horses in the corral for you to choose from.” The boy gave a whoop of delight, ran past his uncle and up the stairs, causing Bronwen to sigh. Joe looked at his brother and sister-in-law. “That Appaloosa you rode last time is in the corral,” he said to Adam. Then he turned to Bronwen and said regretfully, “I’m sorry, Bronwen, but Rosebud died. I’ve got some nice gentle mares in the corral for you to choose from.”

“Poor Rosebud, but I suppose she was over twenty,” Bronwen said sadly. “I’ll come take a look at the horses you’ve selected, but I think I’ll wait until tomorrow morning to go for a ride. How about you, cariad?” she asked Adam.

“I’ll come with you tomorrow,” he replied. “Right now, let’s go pick your mount.” Just then A.C. bounded noisily down the stairs so he added, “and A.C.’s.”

“Would you care for a game of chess?” Ben asked Dr. Davies, who eagerly nodded his acceptance, so they moved to the game table, which stood near Ben’s desk.

When Adam and Bronwen returned, they shared a smile at the sight of their fathers engrossed in their game. “How about a little nap?” he inquired with that certain gleam in his eye.

“I think a nap would be delightful,” she replied with a saucy grin.

The next morning after breakfast everyone except Ben and the Davies went for a short ride. Beth took Huw with her on her dappled gray Quarter Horse and Elen rode with her grandpa on his Appaloosa. Gwyneth rode Duchess, her Morgan mare, and A.C. was mounted on a buckskin gelding that was part Morgan and part Quarter Horse. Bronwen had chosen a brown mustang mare as sweet-tempered as her Olwen.

“I think they should have left the babies with us,” Mrs. Davies said anxiously.

“Beth told Ben and me that they go riding with their tada and mam all the time,” her husband reassured her.

“They’ll be going at a walk,” Ben added. “And they won’t be gone long. They haven’t been on horseback for over a month and they’ll be stiff and sore. Don’t worry, Siân. Let’s sit on the porch and you can tell me more about your voyage,” he suggested.

“And about our great-grandchildren,” she added.

“I never thought I’d get to see my great-grandchildren,” he said with a tender smile.

“I know,” Dr. Davies said. “It was the same for us. Three of our son Bryn’s children have married and have children of their own, but the trip between Sydney and Broken Hill is just too much for us now, and they can’t leave their stations for that long. The journey to Cloncurry is as difficult as the one to Broken Hill and of course Dafydd can’t leave his flock. We are so grateful he was willing for Beth and the children to travel here for Miranda’s wedding.”

“It was sweet of him to give the three of us this opportunity to spend time with Beth’s little ones,” Mrs. Davies added, giving Ben’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“Adam wrote that Huw is pretty easy-going, but Elen has inherited the Cartwright stubbornness,” Ben said with a fond smile.

“Whether she gets it from the Cartwrights or the Davies I’m not sure, but she very definitely has a stubborn streak,” Mrs. Davies agreed. “If she didn’t like the food being served on the ship, she let everyone know it.”

“She only had one or two tantrums,” her husband corrected mildly. “She soon learned that a tantrum resulted in—what is Adam’s expression?—oh, yes, a ‘necessary’ talk.”

“Beth told us Dafydd is the disciplinarian,” Mrs. Davies stated, “and I think Elen just wanted to see what she could get away with since her tada wasn’t there. She soon discovered her tad-cu was just as strict. Now, Huw has his tada’s temperament; the only problem Beth has with him is that he doesn’t like to be put to bed at night. She said he’s always been that way.”

“I think he just doesn’t want to miss out on anything,” her husband said. “He is a very bright, curious little boy.”

“That sounds like Adam when he was a little lad,” Ben said reminiscently. “After he passed through the stage where the only word he seemed to use was ‘no’, his new favorite word was ‘why’.”

“It was the same with our three, but especially Rhys,” Mrs. Davies said.

They were still conversing when the others returned, stiff and sore. “I’d forgotten how long it takes to get used to riding when I haven’t done any for a while,” Beth stated as she handed Huw to Dr. Davies before dismounting, and with none of her usual grace.

“It’ll be better in a few days,” her father remarked as he gave Elen to her and then dismounted rather stiffly before turning to assist his wife.

“Nice horsy,” Elen said and Beth held her so she could pat the Appaloosa’s neck.

“Grandpa, do I have time to take a hot bath before we leave on the picnic?” Gwyneth asked, resisting the strong urge to rub her posterior.

“Don’t take too long, dear,” Ben replied with a slight grin as she ambled by him.

A.C., energized by the outing, asked, “You wanna play catch, Elen?” and was answered by a squeal of delight from his niece.

“Me, too!” Huw shrieked and the two older children frowned. The fourteen-month-old was just too young to play catch very well and they didn’t like rolling the ball so he could play too.

“I packed Elen’s cloth ball,” Beth said. “It’s still in our trunk.”

“I’ll get it,” her brother offered and ran inside the house. Bronwen started to remind him that he shouldn’t run inside but realized the futility and closed her mouth. Beth, knowing that A.C. and Elen would rather play alone, moved to join her parents and grandparents on the porch and gently eased herself on a chair. ‘Huw, maybe Pa-pa would play with you.”

Huw walked over to Adam and asked, “Horsy, Pa-pa?” with a beguiling smile.

Adam ruffled his thick black hair saying, “You just went for a ride, mate.”

“Horsy,” Huw repeated and, rolling his eyes, Adam picked him up and began bouncing him on his knee.

“Me, too, Pa-pa! Me, too!” Elen shrieked as she moved to climb up on his lap as well.

Luckily for Adam’s legs, A.C. burst onto the porch then with the cloth ball, distracting Elen. Huw was having so much fun that he didn’t notice his sister and uncle. When her father showed signs of tiring, Beth offered to take Huw to see the chickens and the pigs.

“May I come with you?” Ben asked and Beth smilingly nodded her agreement. Ben slowly rose from his chair and held out his hand to Huw. When the child trustingly put his tiny hand in his large, calloused one, Ben blinked back tears of joy. He’s Adam’s grandson, but his mannerisms and disposition remind me so much of Hoss.

Ben and Beth were still showing Huw the animals and Adam had joined the game of catch when Buckshot came out carrying a large hamper.

“Yer food’s ready,” he announced.

“Thank you, Buckshot,” Bronwen said as the three ball players came running over and Gwyneth went in search of the missing family members. It took a few minutes to decide who would sit with whom on the drive to the lake. A.C. wanted to sit in the front with his dad, hoping that he could convince him to let him drive part of the way. Wanting to forestall that outcome, Bronwen decided she would sit directly behind Adam and Gwyneth chose to sit by her. Ben wanted to spend some time with Elen and she insisted on sitting with her mother, so the three of them shared a seat and Huw rode in the back seat with his great-grandparents. Joe followed behind with the buggy, carrying the picnic basket.

On the drive to the lake, Dr. and Mrs. Davies were enchanted by the scenery and the children were entranced with the wildlife. After the picnic, Beth and Gwyneth took the children wading along the shore of the lake, Joe and A.C. decided to have a stone-skipping contest while Ben and the Davies chose to rest. Adam and Bronwen elected to go for a walk, promising to be back in an hour to drive everyone to the cabin.

“Do you have a specific destination?” Bronwen asked quietly as she and Adam walked along at steady pace.

He smiled at her. “I suppose after twenty-four years of marriage I shouldn’t be surprised that you can read me like a book.” His expression quickly sobered as he added, “I want to visit Hoss and Marie, and the graves aren’t far from here.”

She squeezed his hand saying, “I’d like to visit Hoss.”

“You built this yourself, Ben?” Dr. Davies asked as the group approached the cabin.

“Had a little help from Adam,” Ben said, smiling at his eldest.

“Considering I wasn’t quite seven yet, I think you can imagine how much help I was,” Adam replied sardonically.

“You’re underestimating your contribution, son,” Ben said quietly as they pulled up in front of the cabin. “He carried the biggest stones he could manage to help in building the foundation and the fireplace and he was a big help filling in the cracks between the logs.”

A.C. jumped out of the surrey, then ran over and poked at the filling between the cabin’s logs. “What’s it made of, Grandpa?”

“Oh, twigs and wood chips, mixed in with sand and dirt and water,” Ben replied as he climbed out of the surrey.

“I remember how much fun it was packing it in,” Adam remarked with a little grin. “Even your Uncle Hoss wanted to help.”

“Your uncle was younger than Huw so he mostly just smeared the cement all over himself, but your dad was a big help. The only time he wasn’t a help was when it came time to raise the walls. I used a hoist but your dad kept insisting he could help and we finally had to have a ‘necessary’ talk. Then he moped around until I was almost ready to give him another.”

A.C.’s eyes widened at the picture of his dad as a sullen little boy being spanked by Grandpa while his oldest sister chuckled. “Just like Gwyneth when she was a little girl and couldn’t have her way.” She sobered quickly as both her father and sister glared at her while her mother hid her grin behind her hand. Dr. and Mrs. Davies, Ben and Joe merely exchanged amused glances.

“When did you build the cabin?” Mrs. Davies asked.

“The spring of 1843,” Ben replied.

“Stone the crows!” A.C. exclaimed. “That’s fifty-five years ago!”

“Very good, son,” Adam said with a smile. “I see you’re getting better at doing arithmetic in your head.”

“I am amazed at the condition it’s in after all this time,” Bronwen stated. “Surely you must have made some repairs?”

“A few,” Joe answered. “We replaced the glass in the windows, put in a new floor since some of the boards had rotted, and did some repairs to the roof.”

Ben added, “The furniture that Adam and I made was still in good shape, we just cleaned it and applied beeswax, but the bed ropes and mattress weren’t salvageable so we bought new ones.”

“Can I—I mean, may I—go inside?” A.C. pleaded.

“Of course,” Ben replied.

Joe inserted quickly, “but don’t climb the ladder to the loft. We didn’t figure William and Miranda would need it, so we didn’t do any repairs up there.”

“Isn’t that where you slept, Dad?” A.C. asked, disappointment written all over his face.

“Yes, but there’s nothing to see. All we had in the loft was a bed and a clothespress,” Adam replied.

“And a rocking chair,” Ben added. “I remember all the time Marie and I spent in that chair watching over the three of you when you came down with mumps, chicken pox and sore throats.

"Stone the crows! It's small!" A.C. exclaimed as they entered the cabin; the others’ faces showed their agreement.

"It seemed like a palace to me," Adam replied. "I was too young when we left Boston to remember your Great-grandfather Stoddard's house, and we didn't live in your Grandma Inger's house for more than a few months, so this was my first real home." He pointed by the fireplace. "Your Uncle Hoss and I used to sleep right over there when we first lived here, and Grandpa slept over there. Later Grandpa built on a bedroom for himself and another for Hop Sing, and then he built the loft for me and Uncle Hoss." Then he pointed to the plain wooden table and chairs on the other side of the fireplace and said, "This is where we ate and I worked on my lessons."

"Your dad helped me make the furniture," Ben said with a smile. "He was too little to use a saw or hammer, but I gave him a piece of pumice and let him rub the wood until it was smooth. Come here and feel what a good job he did."

A.C. and the younger children rubbed their hands on the furniture and then A.C. led his nephew and niece into one of the tiny bedroom. Mrs. Davies turned to Ben then and asked, "So you lived here all alone with Adam and his younger brother?"

"For a few years,” Ben replied. “It was just one room at first but then when Hop Sing came to help me look after the boys and do the cooking, I decided we all needed some privacy so I built a lean-to at each end of the cabin to make bedrooms for myself and Hop Sing. Then I built the loft for the boys. About a year later, I traveled to New Orleans, where I met Joe's mother and married her. Life here was quite different from the life she’d known in New Orleans but she was able to adjust and learned to love it here." He grinned as he added, “It was a good thing I’d already built the bedrooms,” and they all shared a laugh. Just then the children came running back in.

“Are you sure we can’t go up in the loft, Grandpa?” A.C. asked with his most engaging grin.

“A.C., you were already told you could not go up there. Don’t bring it up again,” Adam said firmly and with a hint of irritation.

“I think the cabin will be perfect for a honeymoon,” Mrs. Davies said, wanting to lighten the mood because she noted the way her daughter was frowning at her son-in-law.

“Especially since Miranda doesn’t have to cook,” Beth added and Adam said, “Amen to that!” while Gwyneth giggled.

That week was one Ben knew he would relive in his memories. To be reunited with his firstborn and his family was a precious gift, doubly precious because he was able to hold his great-granddaughter and great-grandson on his lap, to hug them and kiss them. His heart ached for Joe but he rejoiced at the love Adam and Bronwen still shared after all these years. Seeing them with their children and grandchildren was a joy. He dreaded the days he would be alone while all of them were in Boston for Miranda’s graduation but he joyfully anticipated Miranda’s wedding. She was so like her grandmother that seeing her that day would bring back so many poignant memories.

The evening before they were to leave for Boston, they were all gathered in the dining room except for Elen and Huw, who’d had their supper earlier and were now in bed. Conversation centered on Miranda’s wedding. “I think I’ll need to find another dress for the wedding because my clothes are all getting too tight,” Beth said calmly. “I hope we can find something suitable at Bloomingdale’s.”

“The wedding’s not for four weeks. We’ll put you on a diet,” Bronwen said firmly.

“I’m afraid a diet won’t help, Mama,” Beth replied with a grin.

“You’re with child?” Mrs. Davies asked excitedly.

Beth nodded adding, “The baby should be born in December, an early Christmas present.”

“Beauty!” A.C. exclaimed. “I hope it’s a boy!”

“I just hope the baby is healthy,” Beth replied and then added wistfully, “I’ve written Dafydd. I wish I could have told him in person but if I wait, he’ll take one look at me and know.”

“We’ll take good care of you for him,” Adam said, reaching over and patting her hand comfortingly..

“Do Huw and Elen know they’re gonna have a baby brother?” A.C. asked excitedly.

“Or sister,” Gwyneth said pointedly.

“Not yet. I don’t know if Huw will really understand; Elen will as she sees me growing bigger. I was going to wait and tell them when I really start to show,” Beth replied.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Mrs. Davies stated and Bronwen said, “I agree.” She turned to A.C. and said firmly, “We don’t want to be talking about Beth having a baby in public, A.C., just when we’re alone, and you’re not to mention it to Elen and Huw until Beth gives you permission.”

“I wanna tell ‘em now,” A.C. whined.

“We don’t always get what we want,” Adam said sternly. “If you disobey your mother, you and I will have a necessary talk, young man.”

“I never get anything I want,” A.C. sulked, but the adults all ignored him, except for his dad, who sent him a warning glare so he subsided.

The next morning while Adam and Joe saw to the luggage everyone else said goodbye to Ben.

“We’ll see you again in a couple of weeks,” Dr. Davies said, "and I'll tell you all about our granddaughter's graduation." (Except for Adam and Bronwen, everyone was returning to the Ponderosa after Miranda’s graduation. Adam and Bronwen would be traveling to Wilmington with Miranda and William to visit his parents. Then the four of them would travel together to the Ponderosa a few days before the wedding.)

Mrs. Davies added with a smile, “When we return, I’ll teach Buckshot how to make bara brith so you can have it as often as you like.” (She’d convinced Buckshot to let her use the kitchen so she could do some baking, and Ben had especially enjoyed the speckled bread.)

"Goodbye, Grandpa," Beth said, hugging him gently. She lifted Huw, who planted a kiss on Ben's cheek and said, "Bye-bye, Geatganpa."

"You're getting too big for your mama to lift," Adam said to Elen as he held her up so she could kiss 'Geatganpa' goodbye.

"Take care of yourself, Beth," Ben said, hugging her one last time, and Beth replied with a smile, "I'll be fine, Grandpa. Don't worry."

"Goodbye, Grandpa," Gwyneth said and they hugged. "I'll be thinking of you while we're in Boston," she added quietly.

"Bye, Grandpa," A.C. said, hugging Ben tightly. "I hope you don't get lonely while we're all gone."

"I'll manage," Ben replied with a little smile as he hugged his grandson one more time, touched by the child's thoughtfulness.

"We’ll miss you, Pa," Bronwen said softly as she hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"I've packed my camera and I'll take a photograph of Miranda in her cap and gown," Adam said. "That will be almost as good as being there. Don't let my young rapscallion here wear you out while Bronwen and I are visiting the Gordons."

"Dad!" A.C. said, rolling his eyes, and for a moment, Ben felt he'd gone back in time fifty odd years to when Adam had been ten, and he grinned.

"I'm sure A.C. will be good as gold, especially since he knows both his grandfathers and his uncle will have a necessary talk with him if he isn't." Ben embraced his son and Adam said quietly, "We'll see you soon."

Joe approached his father then and hugged him hard before saying, "I'll see you soon and I’ll be bringing Benj and Sarah with me."

"Godspeed, son," Ben said, hugging Joe one more time. He stood on the front porch and watched as they all climbed in the surrey and Joe slapped the reins. The three children turned around and waved to Ben until he disappeared from their sight.

{ { { {

With his advantage in height, Adam was the first to spot Miranda and a slim, bearded man as the train pulled into the station. “I see her,” he said and looking in the same direction Joe grinned and said, “Yeah, there they are,” as he noticed the slim, bearded man at his niece’s side The brothers waved their arms and the couple spotted them and hurried their way.

“Mama, Daddy,” Miranda called, running heedlessly through the disembarking passengers toward her parents. “Oh, I’m so happy to see you,” she got out in a choked voice as she embraced first her mother and then her father. Then she saw her baby brother and even though everyone had written her about how tall he was, it was still a shock to realize they were eye to eye. “A.C.! Don’t I get a hug?” The boy’s cheeks reddened but he hugged her and then stepped back so she could greet the others.

William stood to one side, feeling awkward as he watched his intended embracing her parents, siblings and grandparents. He and his father had never done more than shake hands; his mother allowed him to kiss her cheek, but would never have tolerated a hug. This family loved each other and they weren’t afraid to show it, although he did note that Miranda’s father and the tall young woman that must be Gwyneth gave briefer hugs. The two small children were shy but Miranda had said she expected that. I am certainly marrying into a good-looking family, he thought. Gwyneth is very striking and the sister with the two small children—Beth—is absolutely exquisite.

His musings were interrupted then when Joe walked over and extended his hand saying, “How are you, William?”

“I’m fine, Mr. Cartwright,” he replied as he shook the older man’s hand.

“Call me Uncle Joe; after all, I’ll be your uncle in a few weeks.”

William nodded with a smile and then added, “Guess I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed by Miranda’s family. They’re so much more demonstrative than mine is.”

Joe grinned lazily as he said, “If it’s any comfort, I think it took my brother a while to get used to it, too.”

Miranda finished greeting her family and turned to William. She put her arm through his and said, “I’d like you all to meet my fiancé. Mam-gu, this is William. William, this is my mam-gu, Mrs. Davies.” William smiled and then bowed to the frail, stooped little woman. Next, Miranda said, “Allow me to present my mother.” He smiled at the delicate, bespectacled woman, whose pure white hair contrasted dramatically with her face, which had few lines, and her slim, youthful figure. She returned his smile as he bowed. “I am so pleased to finally meet you, William,” she said in her dulcet soprano.

Miranda then said proudly, “Daddy, this is William. Dearest, allow me to introduce my father.” William looked up at the white-bearded man with piercing, golden-brown eyes under heavy black brows, beginning to be flecked with white. Somehow he had expected Miranda’s father would be about the same height as her Uncle Joe, so he was taken aback by his future father-in-law’s commanding stature. He extended his hand and Adam shook it with a firm grip. ‘I’m honored to meet you, sir,” William said and Adam replied, “I am happy to meet you at last.” William turned then to the older man in the party, who Miranda introduced as her tad-cu, Dr. Davies.

“Now let me introduce my sisters and brother. This is my older sister, Beth, or I suppose to be really proper, Mrs. Jones.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Beth. I hope I may call you Beth?” he said with a smile.

“Of course,” she replied, returning his smile. Elen hung behind her mother’s skirt but Huw was always braver and he spoke up and said, “I Huw.” Then his courage failed him and he hid behind Beth.

“I’m happy to meet you, Huw,” William said, smiling at the little lad, who peeked from behind his mother’s skirts. “And I think this must be Elen.” On hearing her name, she poked her head out but when he smiled at her, she hid behind Beth again.

“This is my younger sister, Gwyneth,” Miranda said and William was a little disconcerted to realize this future sister-in-law was taller than he was.

A.C. stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Adam, Jr., but everyone calls me A.C.”

“You may call me William, A.C.,” he replied as he shook the boy’s hand. If Miranda hadn’t told him her brother was ten, he would have guessed eleven or twelve. He didn’t resemble his father that closely, but he’d definitely inherited his height and build.

“I’m off to Annabelle’s, but I’ll join you for breakfast tomorrow,” Joe said, and waving goodbye, he went in search of a hansom cab.

“May I help you take care of the luggage, sir?” William offered.

“Thanks, I think I can manage, but if you could find hackney cabs to take us to the hotel, I’d appreciate that very much,” Adam replied.

“I’ll be happy to take care of that,” William said. “You’re staying at the Parker House?” and Adam nodded.

“Can—I mean, may—I help you, Dad?” A.C. asked and Adam agreed so the two of them went to take care of the luggage while William went to summon the cabs.

“What do you think?” Miranda asked anxiously.

“About what?” Bronwen replied, assuming an innocent expression.

“About William! Don’t tease me, Mama.”

“He seems very nice,” Bronwen said quietly. “But we just met. We’ll have a chance to get to know each other better tonight at dinner. We're going to order room service and eat in our suite.”

"We're going to eat in your suite?" Miranda repeated in a worried tone, for she'd thought they'd dine in one of Boston's finer restaurants. She wasn't sure how William would feel about this arrangement.

"We learned that Elen and Huw are just too young to dine in public," Bronwen replied. She eyed her second born closely. "I hope you and William don't mind but it seemed the best way for all of us to get to know each other."

"No, it will be fine, Mama," Miranda said quickly. William walked up behind her, having secured the transportation to the hotel.

"Dr. and Mrs. Davies, your cab is ready. And Beth, if you and Gwyneth and the children would like to go to the hotel now, your cab is also ready. If you'll follow me," and offering Beth his arm, he led them to the waiting cabs. In a few minutes Adam and A.C. returned.

"The others are on their way to the hotel?" Adam asked, seeing only Bronwen and Miranda. Bronwen nodded so they headed after the others. William was just helping Gwyneth into the cab when they spotted them.

‘Our cab is right here, sir,” William said to Adam, “and Dr. and Mrs. Davies are on their way to the hotel.”

“Come wiv us, Unca A.C.,” Elen said excitedly but A.C. shook his head.

“No, I wanna ride with Miranda,” A.C. replied. “Can I sit by you?” he asked his sister.

“Right,” she replied with a smile. Then she shook her head saying, “I just can’t get over the fact you’re taller than I am.”

A.C. said with a smirk, “Grandpa says I’ll be taller than Dad. Maybe almost as tall as Uncle Hoss was.”

“Let’s continue this conversation in the cab,” Adam suggested, closing the door of Beth and Gwyneth’s, where Elen was sulking because her uncle didn’t want to ride with her.

It was crowded in the hackney cab with the five of them and Adam and William ended up sharing a seat while A.C. squeezed between his mother and sister in the seat facing theirs. As soon as they started moving, he turned to his sister and said, “I got to ride a horse on the Ponderosa instead of a pony.”

“You wrote that you got a cob for your birthday; I was surprised since even Gwyneth had to wait until she was eleven and Beth and I were twelve. Penny didn’t even get a horse on her twelfth birthday.” Miranda stopped then and looked nervously at her father.

“A.C. is the only one of you to reach five feet on his tenth birthday, and Penny was about a half foot short of five feet when she was twelve,” Adam said quietly. “She was always the smallest of you just as A.C. is the tallest. We were going to get her a horse for her thirteenth birthday even if she was still short of five feet.”

“We all said goodbye to Penny before we left home,” A.C. said, “even Elen and Huw. We show them Penny’s photograph so they know who she is.”

“And when Miranda and I have children, we’ll do the same,” William said softly and he read the gratitude in Adam's and Bronwen’s eyes. “I’ve looked forward to meeting all of you for a long time. Of course, Miranda has told me so much about you that I feel as though I already know you.”

“She hasn’t been as forthcoming with us,” Adam replied dryly as his daughter blushed and avoided his pointed stare.

“Now that you’ve taught for a year, how do you like it?” Bronwen interjected softly.

“Very much. Oh, some students aren’t much interested in history and are only there because it’s a required course, but I like a challenge. I can’t claim to inspire every student, but I know I’ve reached some. Since visiting your father, Mr. Cartwright, I’ve found my interest in the West has increased. I’ve talked with Dr. Martin and Mr. and Mrs. McKaren and as many of the original settlers as I could about the early days. I was hoping I could speak with you about them, specifically your memories of the journey west by wagon train. Perhaps on the trip to the Ponderosa or to my parents’ house?”

“Perhaps,” Adam replied, his tone noncommittal. William swallowed nervously, hoping he hadn’t overstepped his bounds so early in his relationship with his future father-in-law.

“Before we travel to Wilmington, we wanted you and Mama to come with us to Hanover so you can see our house,” Miranda inserted, seeing William’s discomfiture. “We’ll visit Mr. and Mrs. Gordon the remainder of the week.”

“I wanna see where you’re gonna live,” A.C. said excitedly.

“I imagine we’ll all want to see it,” Bronwen said quietly.

“I'll contact the hotel and book the rooms,” William said. “It’s not a new house; but I liked it and I knew Miranda would. It’s Greek Revival and it was built in 1860, but it’s in excellent condition,” he added seeing Adam’s slight frown. “By buying an older house, we could afford a larger one.” (He’d used the last of his great-aunt’s legacy and Miranda had made a sizeable withdrawal from her trust fund to make a substantial down payment on the house and pay for repairs and furnishings. Initially, William had been against using Miranda’s money, but she’d persuaded him that since it would be her home as well as his, she should help pay for it.)

“It’s beautiful, Daddy,” Miranda said and his frown became more pronounced.

“You never wrote us that you visited William in Hanover,” he said in that ominously quiet tone his children dreaded.

It was now William’s turn to come to his fiancée’s rescue. “One of my colleagues, Dr. Bronson, and his wife invited Miranda to be their guest one weekend in April. It gave Miranda an opportunity to see the house before I agreed to buy it, and she also had a chance to meet some of the other faculty wives.”

“I was well-chaperoned, Daddy,” Miranda added, answering his nonverbal, but oh so obvious, question. She was relieved to see his features relax.

“Do you have any brothers and sisters?” A.C. asked William, oblivious to the potential disaster that had just been averted.

“No, I wasn’t as lucky as you; I’m an only child. I always wished I had brothers and sisters, and in a few weeks, my wish will come true,” he replied with a grin.

‘How come you teach school? Wouldn’t you rather do something else? Be a jackeroo? Or an engineer?”

“Jackeroo?” William repeated quizzically.

“It’s Australian for cowboy, dear,” Miranda said.

William smiled at his young brother-in-law. “No. I enjoyed talking with your Uncle Joe, Bronc and Jacob about being a cowboy, but I don’t think I’d care to be one myself. I don’t think I’d make much of an engineer since I was never very good in math. I love studying history and I enjoy teaching.”

A.C. crinkled his nose at the idea of anyone enjoying history or teaching, which made the adults smile. “Do you like sports?” A.C. asked then, hoping to find some common ground with his future brother-in-law. “I like to play cricket.”

“I'm afraid we don’t play cricket here; we play baseball instead," William replied with a diffident smile. "I play baseball, but I prefer tennis and sculling. When I was at Cambridge University, I also did some punting.”

“What’s sculling and punting?” the boy asked.

“Sculling is like rowing except you use two oars, or sculls, instead of one and the boat is very narrow. A punt is a flat-bottomed boat and you move it with a long pole; punting is what you call using the pole to move the boat. I prefer sculling and I was a member of the Harvard crew my junior and senior years.”

“So was I,” Adam said and the two men exchanged smiles. Miranda glanced at her mother and received an almost imperceptible wink, which caused the butterflies in her stomach to disappear.

“What’s that mean, a member of the Harvard crew?” A.C. asked.

“That means we were on the college team and we competed in races against other teams. Our big rival was Yale,” Adam replied.

“Still is,” William added with a grin.

“Could you teach me to scull when we get home?” A.C. asked his dad hopefully.

“I suppose I could build a scull for the two of us,” Adam said thoughtfully. “I haven’t sculled in years, but I’m sure it would come back to me.”

“Can I help build the scull?”

“Too right. It’ll be our project when we get back home,” and the two shared a smile.

“Maybe you could take me for a ride once the scull is finished,” Bronwen suggested. “It sounds like fun.”

“That’d be beaut,” A.C. exclaimed

“William has taken Sarah and me rowing on the Charles several times and it was great fun,” Miranda added.

“We’re going to order room service and dine in our suite, and we’re hoping you and Miranda can join us, William,” Bronwen said quickly since they were approaching the Parker House.

“Of course,” William replied.

“May I go to the Common, Dad?” A.C. asked hopefully.

“Maybe later,” Adam replied.

“Miranda and I would be happy to go with A.C. to the Common,” William said quickly. “I imagine he’s tired of being cooped up on the train.”

“Beauty, William,” Bronwen said with a warm smile. “I feel stuffed but I know A.C. would really enjoy spending time with you and Miranda.”

As soon as the cab pulled up in front of the hotel, A.C. jumped out and ran toward his sisters, niece and nephew, who were just getting out of their cab. “Miranda and William and me are going to the Common! You wanna come too?”

Beth and Gwyneth exchanged glances and Beth said with a smile, “Too right. But I have to change Huw first.”

William and Miranda walked up just in time to overhear and Miranda said, “We’ll wait in the lobby for you.”

As soon as Adam and Bronwen reached their suite, he took off his necktie and undid the top two buttons on his shirt before removing his frock coat and hanging it in the wardrobe. She removed the jacket to her tailor-made suit and hung it by the frock coat before removing her shoes and stockings.

“Those shoes may look smart, but they make my feet hurt,” she complained.

“Come sit by me on the sofa and I’ll massage them for you,” he suggested. As he gently but thoroughly massaged her small, slender feet he asked, “So what do you think of our prospective son-in-law?”

‘I like him,” she answered decisively, “don’t you?”

“So far,” he temporized. “I’ll need to spend more time with him than a cab ride to make up my mind.”

“I could tell you weren’t happy about the trip to Hanover, but I think it was nice of his friends to invite Miranda to stay with them.’

“I guess I did overreact,” he admitted reluctantly. “I’m looking forward to seeing the house. I admit I’m surprised they didn’t choose a more modern one.”

“Given William’s obvious interest in the past, I don't think it's surprising.” She sighed and wriggled her toes. “Oh, they feel so much better. I owe you, cariad.”

“Since our son is going to be occupied for at least an hour, I know just how you can repay your debt,” he replied with a wink and a smirk.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Cartwright family strolled through the Boston Common. A.C. and Huw went ahead, Huw holding his uncle’s hand and trotting along to keep up with his uncle’s much longer stride. Elen clung to her mama’s hand and stared at the two strangers. “Elen, I’d like you to go with your brother and Uncle A.C.” Elen pouted and shook her head so Beth said more firmly, “Elen.” With a pout, Elen stomped after the others, causing her mama to shake her head while the others hid their smiles.

“I have some news to share,” Beth said as they walked together. “I just learned before we left the Ponderosa that I am with child.”

“Oh, Beth, that’s wonderful!” Miranda exclaimed, stopping and throwing her arms around her sister.

‘Yes, congratulations,” William said. Then he paused, suddenly realizing that he would be the baby’s uncle. “I’ll be an uncle!”

Miranda laughed at his exuberance and replied, ‘You’ll be Elen and Huw’s Uncle William as soon as we’re married, dearest.” He smiled sheepishly as he realized his mistake.

“It is wonderful,” Beth said, smiling at the happy couple, “but tomorrow before your graduation, I’m going to have to go to Bloomingdale’s to find a gown for your wedding. I won’t be able to fit into the one I made.”

“You aren’t showing much,” Miranda said.

“But your wedding is almost a month away,” Beth replied with a smile. “I started showing much sooner with Huw than I did with Elen and I can tell I’m going to show even sooner with this baby. Mama said it was the same way with her.” She saw William looked uncomfortable and said, “I’m sorry if we embarrassed you, William. I’m afraid we’re a very candid family.”

“I’ve known Miranda for six years, so I should be accustomed,” he replied with a self-deprecating grin.

"May I come shopping with you?" Miranda asked.

"Fair dinkum?" Beth replied in surprise since Miranda had never shared her enthusiasm for shopping.

“I even thought I’d come,” Gwyneth added, and then remarked, “Mama is coming, too, so she can find some evening gowns.’

"If you ladies want to talk fashion, I think I'll join A.C. and Huw," William said with a rueful grin.

"No, we'll change subjects," Beth said with a smile. She saw her daughter was running back to her. “Elen, I asked you to go play with Huw and Uncle A.C.” Elen shook her head and grabbed her mama’s hand. Beth sighed. "Dafydd and I keep hoping she'll outgrow this shyness. I thought she was doing better, but she's encountered so many strangers since we left Cloncurry that she's been overwhelmed."

"After you spend some time with her, she won't be so shy," Gwyneth added. "She'd forgotten me but we've become friends again, haven't we, Elen." She'd hoped to encourage Elen to speak, but the little girl only nodded.

"We told you that you were going to meet Auntie Miranda and Uncle William, didn't we?" Beth asked and again Elen nodded. "Could you say g'day to Auntie Miranda and Uncle William?" Beth asked encouragingly.

Elen looked at Miranda and William with big eyes for a moment and then she dimpled and said, "G'day Auntie Manda and Unca Willum."

"G'day to you, Elen," Miranda said with a dimpled smile of her own and William said, "Hello, Elen.'

"Do Radcliffe graduates wear caps and gowns when they graduate?" Gwyneth asked, changing the subject.

"The first Radcliffe graduates only wore dresses, but now we wear caps and gowns just like male graduates. I think the graduation is a very impressive ceremony," Miranda replied.

"We're all proud of you; I hope you know that," Beth said. "Even if I still don't understand why you wanted to spend all these years studying, I am proud of the fact you achieved your goal."

"Thank you, Beth," Miranda said and hugged her sister. Then she turned to their younger sister. "Are you going back to Brisbane and your job at the bookstore?"

"No," Gwyneth said slowly. "I've sublet my flat and I'll come back home until Mark graduates in December. When I go home, I'll have to tell Douglas that I realize it's Mark that I love. I am dreading it, but I suppose it's crueler to keep his hopes up."

"It really is," William said quietly and Gwyneth nodded. "I take it Douglas hasn't shown any romantic interest in the schoolteacher?" he added.

Gwyneth and Beth looked at him in surprise and Miranda said sheepishly, "I told William what Beth wrote about Miss Andrews being interested in Douglas and Douglas being hopelessly in love with Gwyneth."

"No, I’m afraid Douglas only thinks of Melanie as Gwyneth’s friend," Beth replied. "I didn't really think there was much chance of him turning to her. He's too in love with Gwyneth to notice to Melanie or any other woman." She looked sideways at her youngest sister and, seeing her discomfort, quickly changed the subject back to the young couple. "You've already bought your house?"

"Yes," Miranda replied. "In fact, we're taking Mama and Daddy to Hanover to see it before we go to Wilmington. You and Gwyneth are welcome to come, too."

"Would you like to see where Auntie Miranda and Uncle William are going to live?" Beth asked Elen, who nodded and said, "Yes," emphatically.

"I'd like to see it," Gwyneth said, "and I imagine that tad-cu and mam-gu will want to come as well. We can have Uncle Joe tell Grandpa that we'll be back at the Ponderosa a few days later than we expected."

"I have a thought," William said then. "I'll bet Elen, Huw and A.C. would like a ride on the swan boats."

"That's a wonderful idea, dear," Miranda said, smiling up at William.

"What's swan boat?" Elen asked, surprising them all.

"It's a boat shaped like a swan. It's lots of fun to ride," Miranda answered. "The swan boats are in the Public Garden; it's connected to the Common. It won't take us too long to walk there."

"A.C.! Huw!" Beth called, "come here!" The two boys came running back and she said, "William and Miranda suggested we take a ride on the swan boats in the Public Garden."

"Where's the Public Garden?" A.C. asked. "I've never been there."

"It's very close and the swan boats are fun to ride," Miranda replied.

"But I wanted to show Huw the frog pond," A.C. protested.

"We're going to be in Boston for another two days. You can bring Huw to the frog pond the day after tomorrow," Beth suggested.

"Okay," A.C. said. He didn't mind too much because he was intrigued by the idea of riding in the swan boat.

Huw's legs got tired before they reached the Public Garden, but he let William carry him the rest of the way. Elen and Huw were entranced by the swan boats and the women had a delightful time. Halfway through the boat ride, William felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to face his young brother-in-law-to-be.

"Sculling is better than this, isn't it?" the boy whispered.

William winked. "Yes, but I knew Elen and Huw would enjoy the swan boat," he whispered back. "I have a friend here in Boston who sculls. Maybe before we leave Boston, I can ask to borrow his scull and your dad and I can take you sculling."

"Beauty, William!" A.C. exclaimed. "I hope it's all right with your friend."

"We'll have to check with your dad first," William cautioned.

When they got back to Adam and Bronwen’s suite, where they were visiting with Bronwen’s parents, A.C. immediately exclaimed, “Dad! William said he would borrow a boat from one of his friends and we could go sculling!”

“Uh, A.C.,” William said nervously, aware of his prospective father-in-law’s raised eyebrow, “what I said was that we would ask your father and, if he agreed, the three of us might go sculling.”

“Don’t worry, William,” Adam said with a slight smile. ‘I’m well aware of my son’s tendency to report the facts as he wishes them to be.” He shook his head a little and said to A.C., “Maybe when you grow up, Douglas’s father will give you a job writing for the Advocate.”

During this exchange Elen climbed onto Bronwen’s lap and said excitedly, “We rode swan, Me-ma!” while Huw held up his arms to Adam, who lifted him onto his lap.

“We didn’t ride a swan, Elen. We rode the swan boats,” A.C. said condescendingly while Elen pouted.

“We took them to the Public Garden,” Miranda explained.

“Did you have fun riding the swan boat, mate?” Adam asked and Huw nodded and grinned.

“May I take Huw to the frog pond the day after tomorrow?” A.C. asked hopefully.

“I think that would be very nice,” Bronwen said with a smile.

“I was thinking that while the ladies are shopping tomorrow morning, we might explore the Harvard Yard,” Adam suggested. “Show Huw where his grandpa and Uncle William went to school.”

“It sounds like a wonderful idea,” William said and Dr. Davies agreed. “You and I will have to compare our experiences at Cambridge,” Dr. Davies said to William with a smile, referring to the university in England he’d attended and where William had earned his Master’s degree.

Dinner that evening was a revelation to William, who’d never spent any time with very small children, but he found the informal atmosphere much more appealing than the stuffy, formal meals at his parents’ house. Beth tied napkins around her children’s necks to protect their clothing. At fifteen months, Huw was still a messy eater. Beth mashed his peas and carrots into his potatoes and William saw in fascination that at least half the food ended up on his face. Elen was a more fastidious eater and didn’t want any of her food to touch but she fed herself with only a few minor mishaps. They had no interest in the adult conversation, but William noted his young brother-in-law-to-be had clearly not been raised under the axiom: ‘Children should be seen but not heard.’

At first, much of the conversation centered on Miranda’s friends and neighbors in Cloncurry. Mr. Michaelson, who managed the post office, had let slip to Beth that Miranda’s friend Emma and Llywelyn had been corresponding for the past year.

“Emma’s never written a word to me about Llywelyn and he’s never written about her,” Miranda said in surprise.

“He wrote me,” Gwyneth said quietly. “He’s spent time with several girls in Sydney, but he didn’t fall in love with any of them. He wasn’t sure if Emma would want him to write, but she did. He hasn’t said so, but I think he’s falling in love with her.”

“I noticed he hadn’t been seeing any young ladies for some time. He and Mark both have been devoting themselves to their studies, except for cricket games and visits to Bondi Beach,” Mrs. Davies said, with a special smile for Gwyneth, who colored slightly at the mention of Mark.

“I don’t know why you all want to get married,” A.C. said in disgust.

“Just wait five or six years, A.C. bach,” Dr. Davies said. “I think it will become crystal clear to you,” and the others all smiled while A.C. sulked and Bronwen looked alarmed.

“I’m looking forward to seeing your home,” Mrs. Davies said to Miranda and William. “How large a town is Hanover?”

“It’s not large,” Willem replied. “Much of the town’s economy is based on Dartmouth College, but there are also several cotton mills. Because of the college, Hanover is a modern town. For example, the Mary Hitchcock Hospital has a diagnostic x-ray machine. The first hospital in the nation to have one.”

“I’d love to be able to see that,” Dr. Davies said, his face alight with enthusiasm.

“What’s an x-ray?” Gwyneth asked.

“I’ll give you an analogy,” Dr. Davies replied. “Your tada’s camera takes pictures of what you look like on the outside. An x-ray shows the doctor what you look like on the inside. For example, a diagnostic x-ray is used to learn if a bone is broken or fractured.” Dr. Davies then asked William, “Does your college have a medical school?”

“Yes, it does. In fact, it was the fourth to be established in the United States,” William said proudly. Then he turned to Adam and said, “We have the Thayer School of Engineering.”

“I’ve read about it,” Adam said thoughtfully. “It’s one of the best in the country.”

The next afternoon the Cartwrights, Joneses, Davies and William arrived early at the auditorium of Fay House to ensure they would get seats toward the front. A.C. kept looking at the door so he was the first to spot Joe when he arrived.

“Here we are, Uncle Joe,” he called, jumping up and waving his arm.

“Sit down, son,” Adam said sternly as he turned toward the door. Along with Joe he saw a pretty little girl with curly golden brown hair and a thin boy with flaxen hair he that knew must be Sarah and Benj.

“Annabelle is with Joe,” Bronwen said in surprise. Her sister-in-law, elegant and poised as ever, was on Joe’s arm and Joe looked happier than she had seen him since they arrived in the States.

Sarah was as exuberant as her cousin and ran toward them calling, “Hello, Aunt Bronwen! Hello, Uncle Adam!” She hugged them both and then said, “Hello, Beth. Are these your babies?”

“Not baby!” Huw said indignantly and Elen, forgetting her shyness, retorted, “I’m a big girl!” in an equally offended tone.

“These are my children,” Beth said with a laugh before hugging her little cousin.

“Hello, Gwyneth,” Sarah said and hugged her. Then she turned to A.C. “My goodness, you’re tall. Almost as tall as Benj.” Indeed, when Joe, Annabelle and Benj approached, it was obvious that thirteen-year-old Benj was only a couple of inches taller than his ten-year-old cousin.

“Sarah, that was very unladylike behavior,” Annabelle scolded.

Adam and Bronwen saw their sister-in-law had aged remarkably well although Bronwen suspected her blonde hair now owed more to artifice than to nature. Annabelle greeted her in-laws and the Davies with her usual sang-froid while Joe stood by her positively beaming. Adam and Bronwen exchanged a quick glance sharing their hope that a reconciliation had occurred.

Joe and his family sat in the row behind them. Beth had brought the picture books Bronwen had purchased at the Corner Bookstore during their shopping expedition to occupy her little ones. Bronwen had also purchased Otto of the Silver Hand for A.C. and gave it to him to read if he became bored. Conversations ceased as the notes of Aida’s Grand March began to fill the auditorium. The graduates were impressive as they entered the auditorium in their caps and gowns, and Adam and Bronwen felt their hearts swell with pride as they watched their second born—her expression so grave, so intense—as she marched in with the other young women. When the name Miranda Cartwright was called, she walked to the platform and received her degree, summa cum laude, from a dignified President Agassiz, her face radiant. Bronwen had to dab at her eyes with her hankie while Adam blinked to hold back his tears.

When the ceremony ended, Miranda hurried to her family. “I am so proud of you, Miranda fach,” Bronwen said tearfully as she hugged her daughter.

“Thank you, Mama,” Miranda said before turning to her daddy. He held her tight for a moment before saying in a voice that wasn’t quite steady, “I’m proud of you, too, Angel. I know how hard you worked to achieve your dream.”

“Thank you, Daddy, for giving me the opportunity,” Miranda said softly. “I know it wasn’t easy for you and Mama to let me come here, but I am so grateful.”

“You did it, dearest,” William whispered before he kissed her, while A.C., Elen and Huw stared at them in fascination.

Once everyone had had a chance to congratulate Miranda, Adam asked to see her degree. He saw it was signed by Radcliffe’s President Agassiz and countersigned by Harvard’s President Eliot.

“Someday women will be able to attend Harvard and we won’t need a separate women’s college,” Miranda stated as she gazed at her degree.

“This degree will be framed and hung by mine in our library,” William said proudly, putting his arm around Miranda’s shoulders and drawing her close. Adam’s eyes narrowed for a moment and then he smiled at the young couple so obviously in love. He knew with certainty that William would cherish his daughter as she deserved.

Chapter 2

Two days after Miranda’s graduation Joe, Annabelle and their children left Boston for the Ponderosa while everyone else prepared for the visit to Hanover. Adam and Bronwen went to see Joe and his family off, leaving A.C. in his grandparents’ charge. Adam’s and Bronwen’s faces showed their pleasure at Joe and Annabelle’s apparently happy reconciliation and they could see the joy reflected in their niece’s and nephew’s countenances. After waving a final goodbye, they returned to the hotel to complete their packing for the relatively “short” trip to Hanover. They were excited at the opportunity to see where Miranda and William would live. The previous day Adam, William and A.C. had all gotten sunburned when they went sculling since William and A.C. hadn’t worn hats and they had all rolled up their shirtsleeves. Adam didn’t mind the sunburn so much, but even though Bronwen had given him a backrub and he’d soaked in a hot bath, he was still stiff and sore. Obviously I’m not in as a good a physical shape as I believed, he thought, wincing as he moved to find a more comfortable position. I’m glad A.C. enjoyed sculling because I clearly need more exercise. Once we return home, I’ll order some lumber and begin working on our scull.

His focus on his own thoughts was broken by his mother-in-law’s lilting Welsh accent. “The countryside is lovely,” she commented as they traveled northwest across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“So lush and green,” Bronwen added, “nothing like Cloncurry.”

“In addition to your house and the college, what else should we see in Hanover?” Adam asked William, as he joined in the conversation. “Oh, I forgot, Tad would like to visit the hospital,” and Dr. Davies smiled.

“I think we should visit Dartmouth’s museum, sir. Although,” William added, glancing at the two young children playing with the small toys their mother had packed, “I don’t suppose it would be of any interest to Elen and Huw.”

“I’m not very interested in museums,” Beth said with a smile, “so I’ll be happy to stay with Elen and Huw. Is there any place like the Common where they can play?”

“Oh yes,” William said. “There’s the Dartmouth Green and it’s near the Wheelock Hotel where we’ll be staying. Oh, and you must visit the Dartmouth Bookstore. I think it has as big a variety of books and magazines as any in the country, the Corner Bookstore in Boston included.”

“We shopped there when I visited and I fell in love with it,” Miranda added.

“We won’t arrive for another hour,” William then said quietly, “and I was hoping Mr. Cartwright would be willing to describe his trip west by wagon train.” The young man knew he was taking a chance in bringing up the subject again, as it had not been met with much enthusiasm the first time. However, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to hear what this country had been like from someone who had actually traveled across it and lived to tell the story.

“Oh yes, Daddy,” Beth said. “You’ve never told us much about that and I’d love to know what it was like.”

“Me, too,” A.C. said.

“If you don’t mind, Adam, I think we’d all enjoy hearing about your journey,” Bronwen said softly. William smiled at his “soon to be” family and saw that they were all as interested as he was in the subject that obviously had not been broached before this.

Adam was quiet, a thousand scenes flooding his mind of the loving woman he would always think of when he remembered that time. He slowly nodded and then began to speak. “It was a long time ago and I was only six. Pa and my stepmother, Inger, whom I always think of as my mama, had married a few months earlier. We were planning on heading west, but we had to wait for spring, and in the meantime, we lived in the Borgstroms’ little clapboard house.”

His expression became wistful as he continued in a gentle tone. “Mama was so wonderful. Every day when I came home from school, she’d be waiting for me with a treat—gingersnaps or current buns or sugar cookies—and a big glass of milk, and she’d ask me what had happened in school that day. After we talked, I’d fill the wood box for her and set the table and we’d talk more or play Twenty Questions until Pa came home. After Uncle Gunnar had sold the family store, Pa managed to find a job working at the livery stable and he was saving money to help pay for our trip to Oregon.”

Adam stopped then and smiled at the disappointed look on his son’s face. “I know it isn’t exciting, Jackeroo, but I’d never had a mama before, never lived in a house where I had my own room and my own bed. Living in that little clapboard house with my pa and my mama was the happiest I’d ever been. And it was the happiest I’d ever seen my pa. All the time we’d been traveling west, I knew my pa was sad because he missed my mother. Now we had Mama, and Pa seemed to be smiling all the time.”

“As soon as the roads were passable, we packed our supplies and a few belongings in our farm wagon and headed for St. Louis, Missouri. There were plenty of other immigrants when we reached St. Louis, and we all loaded our wagons onto steamships and headed west on the Missouri River. That was the easiest part of the trip but after about two hundred miles, the river turns north, so we all had to leave the steamships. There were a couple of jumping off places, such as, St. Joseph and Westport, but we chose the first one, Independence.

“In the spring, Independence was full of emigrants and shops that sold what they’d need for the long trek west. It was the first boomtown I’d ever seen—full of people, oxen and mules. No matter where you went, you could hear the loud clanging of blacksmiths shoeing mules and oxen and repairing wagons. I stuck close by Pa and Mama when we went into town because all the people and the noise scared me. After the first trip, Pa went into town alone and left me and Mama at our camp, but it was even more crowded there. There were so many wagons that they covered nearly three square miles. And we were all waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” A.C. asked, frowning a little.

“Waiting for the grass to grow. You see, you needed the grass to be long enough for the oxen or mules to graze along the way. If you left too early and the grass wasn’t long enough, that could be a fatal mistake. We had to buy plenty of supplies for ourselves that the animals would have to haul and I can still remember them: two hundred pounds of flour, one hundred fifty pounds of bacon, twenty pounds of sugar and ten pounds of salt. We also had around fifty pounds of navy beans. Mama had dried apples back home and we had packed those. She packed the china that her mother had brought over from Sweden but we ate off tin plates and drank out of tin cups. Pa let me bring the few books my grandfather had sent me, my Noah’s Ark, and my cloth ball, and he brought my mother’s music box and their copy of Paradise Lost, but we couldn’t bring anything else. The mules could only haul so much and food was more important. Some emigrants didn’t realize that and the trail was littered with furniture, barrels of flour and other things they had to abandon along the way.”

“While we waited outside Independence for the grass to grow, Pa talked with some other families and we decided to form a wagon train. One of the families, the Paynes, was camped next to us. They had a boy my age named Johnny, and we’d become friends. We’d play catch with my cloth ball or play Kick the Can. There were some other children camped near us and sometimes we’d all play Needle’s Eye or tag. The older boys would play Shinny, but Mama and Mrs. Payne wouldn’t allow me and Johnny to play it because they thought it was too rough.” Adam stopped and grinned. “Actually, we did play it once. One of my front teeth was loose, and it got knocked out in the game and Johnny got a black eye. That’s when our mamas told us we were forbidden to play again.” Bronwen and Mrs. Davies shook their heads then while A.C. grinned.

“The first week in May, everyone agreed the grass was long enough and they all tried to leave at the same time. It was worse than a log jam. We’d traded our old draft horse, Molly, for a team of mules, and Pa was finding driving a team was trickier than driving one horse; however, he was a better driver than some. Some greenhorns managed to bump their wagons into trees or even tip them over. A few couldn’t even get their animals to move in the right direction.” Adam grinned at the memory of the chaotic scene.

“I have to tell you that much of the trip was monotonous. Every morning we’d eat a breakfast of bacon and johnnycake. Pa and Mama would drink coffee and we had a milk cow so I’d get milk to drink. I used to help Pa groom Molly and hitch her up, but he didn’t think the mules were as sweet-tempered so I wasn’t allowed to help with them. Instead I’d help by drying the dishes Mama washed and folding up our bedrolls. Then Johnny and I would walk alongside our wagons. We wanted to explore, but we were told not to wonder off. We disobeyed once but Mrs. Payne spotted us right away. Mr. Payne and Pa punished us. I think that was the most painful ‘necessary talk’ Pa and I ever had”

A.C. looked at his dad with big eyes. “I didn’t think Grandpa was that mean.”

“He wasn’t mean,” Adam replied quietly. “I thought so then but now I understand exactly why he and Mr. Payne punished us so severely. If we’d wandered off out of sight, which would have been easy to do on the prairie that stretches out like a sea of tall grass in every direction, we might have gotten lost and died of hunger, thirst or exposure. They had to make sure we never disobeyed the rule about wandering off again.” A.C. looked thoughtful but he slowly shook his head to show he understood.

“We’d walk for miles every day. We’d stop for a midday meal of johnnycake and beans and to give the stock a chance to rest and graze. In the evening, we’d gather the wagons in a circle and if Pa had shot a rabbit or a prairie hen, we’d have stew for dinner. Most times it was more beans and maybe some wild greens. Halfway across Kansas Johnny got a blister on his foot. It became infected and he died of blood poisoning. We had to bury him on the trail.” Adam stopped then, his first encounter with death still as painful as it was over a half century before, and they weren’t sure if he was going to continue.

When he spoke again, his voice was quieter and almost flat. “We were about two days from Fort Kearny in Nebraska when my brother Hoss was born. We hadn’t made good time because the wagon master was a drunk. A few weeks before Hoss was born, he’d been shot by a man to whom he owed money. That man, Mr. Rockwell, knew the country so the men on the wagon train offered him the job of leading us to Ash Hollow, where we would join up with a larger wagon train.”

The painful look returned to the older man’s face and William wished he had just kept his curiosity to himself, rather than cause his future father-in-law any more grief. Before he could voice his concern, however, Adam continued.

“We got to Ash Hollow about the time Hoss turned a month old, but because of our delays on the trail, the other wagon train had left without us. Unbeknownst to us, some Indians had been following us all along, and once we reached the station, they attacked.” Swallowing hard, he managed to finish that part of the story. “Mama was killed in the attack after she handed Hoss to me and grabbed a rifle to help the men fight off the Indians. I saw her fall with an arrow in her back.” He closed his eyes then and was silent, but they could feel his pain.

Bronwen took Adam’s hand and held it between hers while everyone else was silent. A.C.’s eyes filled with tears as he imagined how he would feel watching his mama die right in front of him without any way to help her. Beth wiped a tear from her eye as she thought of her own small ones and how valiantly Inger had fought to protect her children. William took Miranda’s hand and squeezed it. As she looked up at him, he mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.” She shook her head and touched his cheek to let him know that this story had been a long time in coming and that her fiancé had nothing to be sorry about. She, too, was deeply touched and proud that her middle name had been given in honor of this brave and gentle soul.

After a few minutes, Adam drew a deep breath, opened his tear-filled eyes, and resumed his narrative. “One of the other women on the wagon train had a baby she was starting to wean, and she agreed to wet-nurse Hoss. Johnny’s mother fixed meals for me and Pa.”

“When we’d left Independence, Pa had told Mama and me about Courthouse Rock, a huge boulder immigrants would climb and then carve or scratch their names onto. I had been looking forward to climbing it and adding my name, but now I didn't care about it or anything else. When some of the other children went, I stayed with Pa, even though he barely noticed I was there.”

Bronwen, Beth and Gwyneth exchanged glances then, remembering that when Penny died, Adam hadn’t been able to deal with his grief and had ignored the rest of the family. They surmised it must have been the same with Ben. Adam took a deep, calming breath and continued, although with a tenuous hold on his emotions. The next words he spoke were in a man’s voice, but obviously reflected the feelings of the lonely little boy he had been so long ago. “I tried so hard to be a good boy the way Mama would have wanted me to be and not cause any problems for Pa. During the day, I managed but then I started having nightmares. At first they weren't so bad. I'd wake up and I'd be crying, but I never said anything to Pa. But they got worse and worse. I remember one night waking up screaming and then Hoss started to cry. Pa got him calmed down but I thought I was going to be in trouble for sure.”

A.C.’s eyes grew round as he stared at his father. “What did Grandpa do then, Dad?”

Adam’s face softened as he recalled his father’s tenderness in dealing with his distraught child. “Pa held me in his arms and stroked my hair. He hadn't held me in a long time and I remember how good it felt. When I was calm, he told me very gently that Mama was in heaven with my mother and they would both be looking after me and Hoss. Pa promised me that even if our mamas were in heaven, Pa and Hoss and I were still a family. I missed my mama, but knowing Pa loved me and that I had two mamas in heaven looking after me made it easier to go on.”

A.C. verbalized his own thoughts then. “I can’t imagine growing up without Mama,” and Bronwen reached over and squeezed his hand.

“Your grandpa did the best he could to be a father and a mother to me and Uncle Hoss,” Adam said quietly, “but I missed my mama’s gentleness and sweetness.” He gazed lovingly into Bronwen’s eyes as he said, “I am so thankful that your mama has always been with me, helping me to raise you and your sisters.”

Suddenly realizing that he had bared his soul in front of not only his family, but also William, Adam struggled to regain his composure and finish his story.

“But I was telling you about our journey. The Oregon and California trails separate in southern Idaho. The majority of the men had decided that since it was so late in the year they would head south toward California. It was on one of the trails across the Sierra Nevada that we saw Lake Tahoe. I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. I wanted to stop there but of course we didn’t have the supplies to survive a winter, especially with a baby in tow, so we pressed on to the valley of the Sacramento River. I never forgot that beautiful lake, and I guess Pa didn’t either since the next spring we headed back over the mountains and built our cabin.”

Sensing that this was the end of the story for now, though he wanted to hear more about the settling of the Nevada territory, William spoke up. “Thank you for sharing that, sir.” Adam nodded, his hazel eyes boring into William’s blue ones as the younger man absorbed the immensity of what he had just heard. The respect and admiration he felt for Miranda’s father had now deepened and grown immeasurably. He realized what a treasure he was being given by this man who had lost so many loved ones in his life, and he would do everything in his power to love and protect Miranda as her father always had.

Meanwhile Elen had grown tired of rolling her ball back and forth with her little brother and she walked over to her mama and said petulantly, “I’m hungry, Mama.”

“We’ll eat in a little while,” Beth replied with a smile. “Would you like to look at one of your books?”

“No, I wanna eat,” Elen stated pugnaciously.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I don’t have any food to give you. Would you like to play with your dolly?”

“I wanna eat!” Elen repeated even more loudly, and Adam, now once again in command of his emotions, said in a firm voice, “Elen Penelope Jones, you will not talk to your mother in that tone of voice.”

“I wanna eat!” Elen shouted and stamped her foot.

Adam stood up then. Beth began, “Daddy—” but Adam overrode her. “Princess, I know Elen is your child, but she can’t be allowed to talk back to you,” he said evenly.

Beth sighed. She hated punishing her children, but she didn’t want Elen to grow up to be spoiled and willful. “You’re right, but I will handle it.” Adam nodded and sat back down.

“Elen, little girls mustn’t talk back to grownups,” Beth said as sternly as she could. “If they do, then they must be punished.” She pulled her daughter over her knees, spanked her once and then sat her down. Elen ran to her grandma sobbing. Bronwen picked her up and sat her on her lap, rubbing her back to calm her.

Huw, who had been watching with big eyes, now said, “Elen bad.”

“I’m n-not b-bad,” Elen sobbed.

“No, you’re not bad,” Adam said, reaching over to stroke her hair, “but you did do a bad thing and so your mama had to punish you.”

“Would you tell your mama that you’re sorry you talked back to her?” Bronwen asked gently and the little girl nodded.

“I’m s-sorry, M-mama,” Elen got out and held out her arms to Beth, who took her, blinking back tears of her own.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too much longer before they arrived at the large, red-brick hotel. William saw to the luggage while Adam checked them in and Dr. Davies escorted the ladies and children into the hotel’s restaurant. Beth hoped her little ones would be on their best behavior because she didn’t think she could bear giving any more spankings that day. Her wish was granted and except for Huw’s normal messiness they behaved like angels. After the meal, the children needed a nap as did their great-grandparents. Everyone else decided to visit the Dartmouth Bookstore. Gwyneth was envious because the store had a larger inventory than the Overtons’ and each of the Cartwrights chose a book to take back to Cloncurry. When they returned to the hotel, the others were waiting for them so they could go see Miranda and William’s house.

“Our house is on Greensboro Road,” William said as they left the hotel and headed down the sidewalk.

“Hanover would seem to be the quintessential New England town,” Adam remarked as they strolled along, noting the tree-lined streets, neat lawns and saltbox houses.

“These trees must be beautiful in the autumn,” Mrs. Davies commented and William said with a smile. “Oh, they are magnificent. I wish you all could see them—blazing with color.” He stopped in front of a large two-story brick house and said proudly, “Here it is.”

“What a ripper!” A.C. exclaimed animatedly while Gwyneth said, “It’s beautiful.”

“One of the best examples of Greek Revival I’ve seen,” Adam said, admiring the clean lines and fine workmanship of the dwelling. “Usually they’re clapboard, but I’ve seen others in brick. See the gable roof,” he said gesturing, “and the elongated windows and the massive Doric columns; they are all found in Greek Revival homes. I’ve never seen anyone enclose the ends of the porch this way, but I like it.” William’s chest swelled just a bit, and Miranda bit her lip to keep from grinning at his obvious pleasure in gaining her father’s approval.

“How many rooms does it have?” Mrs. Davies asked.

“It has four bedrooms on the second floor and two more attic bedrooms. The master bedroom is huge,” Miranda said, “and the other three are large. Then there is a drawing room, library, dining room and kitchen. We also have a water closet and a bathroom at the back of the house.”

“I have the key so we can go inside and look around,” William added.

“We had new wallpaper put in all the bedrooms, and the walls and the molding in the drawing room and dining room have been repainted,” Miranda announced proudly. She added, “We’ve only bought furniture for the drawing and dining rooms, the library and our bedroom. We decided we could furnish the other bedrooms as we needed them.”

“I had this new linoleum put on the floor of the kitchen. It’s supposed to be much easier to clean,” William remarked.

Poor Beth was struggling not to be envious as she looked about the beautiful house and compared it to the small rectory with its fading wallpaper and old furnishings. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and our children, and that is more important than the size of our home or the elegance of our furniture, she told herself, feeling very ashamed of her envy. Still, as she gazed at the brown leather Chesterfield and the partner’s desk made of walnut in the library and the lovely oval dining room table of tiger maple, there was a part of her that wished she and Dafydd could have a home as fine as Miranda and William’s.

Adam was concerned that William and Miranda were beginning their life together under a burden of debt. However, his advice had not been asked and the purchases had been made. Miranda knew her father well and seeing his almost imperceptible frown, she moved quickly to set his mind at rest. Drawing him aside, she said softly, “We paid for the furniture and the repairs, Daddy, using William’s legacy and money from my trust fund. There is a mortgage on the house but we plan to pay it off in ten years. It is important for William’s career that he has an attractive house with nice furnishings so we look on all this as an investment.”

Adam smiled slightly at her before replying in an equally quiet tone, “I’m glad to know you haven’t gone into debt. I hope you didn’t touch the principal of your trust fund.”

“No, Daddy, just the interest. We intend to use it for our children’s education just like Beth and Dafydd,” and she smiled warmly at him.

Adam examined the house carefully for any problems and was relieved that he only found a few minor items that he brought to William’s attention. William listened thoughtfully and then asked Adam for advice since he had experience in construction and architecture.

Bronwen and Mrs. Davies questioned Miranda about drapes, curtains and rugs, and then offered suggestions. Overcoming her envy, Beth joined in and Miranda and Gwyneth both listened attentively to the older women’s advice. A.C., bored to tears by this time, offered to take Elen and Huw outside to play while the adults finished their dreary dissertation on colors, columns and curtains.

As they went through the bedrooms on the second floor, Beth asked, “Which room will be the nursery?”

Blushing just a little, Miranda said, “I thought this corner room. It’s right next to ours so I’ll be able to hear the baby when he or she cries, and there are two large windows so there will be plenty of light.”

Beth smiled and said, “There may be times you wish you’d chosen the bedroom at the other end of the hall,” to which Adam added, “Amen!” All three of his daughters laughed at this, as their mother blushed at her husband’s obvious allusion to their lack of privacy during each of their five children’s infancy.

Everyone approved of the master bedroom, which was papered in a floral design on a beige background, and the lovely low post bed made of tiger maple with a sheaf of wheat motif. After looking at the bedrooms, they all went down the backstairs to look at the kitchen, the water closet and bathroom.

“I like this bathtub,” Bronwen commented, looking at the gleaming white tub on a pedestal base.

“It’s the newest thing,” William replied proudly. “It’s solid porcelain.”

“Solid porcelain?” Adam said skeptically.

“Yes, it’s made of earthenware coated with a white glaze. It weighs almost 900 pounds; we had to tear down the wall to get it installed. And we have a new Howell toilet installed in the water closet.”

The water closet was too small for more than two people to enter at a time; Adam went in with William first. “I pull the chain and then it flushes the rim and siphons away the waste. Plus porcelain is easier to clean than wood so this is the most sanitary toilet available.”

“Pretty impressive,” Adam commented while A.C. and Elen, who had recently come back into the house, both chanted, “I wanna see! I wanna see!”

“Me see!” Huw chimed in, hopping up and down excitedly.

“All right, I think you three can all squeeze in,” William said with a grin.

“I wish we had one of these rather than an outhouse,” Bronwen said with a sigh and Adam said, “Maybe someday, sweetheart. It’s just not practical now.” He secretly doubted that he would ever live in a home with such a device, as Cloncurry was not likely to install a sewer system anytime in the foreseeable future.”

“It’s one definite advantage life in the city has over life in the country,” Dr. Davies said with a little smile, knowing his daughter still missed this convenience in her rural home.

After they finished inspecting the house, they all walked back to the Wheelock Hotel. It was then time for supper and while they ate in the parlor of Bronwen and Adam’s suite, they made plans for their final day in Hanover. Miranda and Gwyneth both decided they would stay with Beth and the children while everyone else visited the museum since they wanted to enjoy their niece and nephew, as well as the counsel of their married sister. They would all tour the college and then the men would visit the Mary Hitchcock Hospital while the women explored the town.

The next day as they strolled toward the museum, enjoying the beautiful day, William purposely dropped back to have a private word with Adam. Bronwen, sensing the young man’s desire to speak privately with her husband, guided A.C. into step with his grandparents. William said quietly to Adam, “I was hoping for a chance to speak with you, sir, when Miranda wasn’t here.” Adam raised one eyebrow but said nothing so William continued. “You see, I need your advice for the wedding gift I want to give Miranda. I know Miranda loves to ride and I was thinking of buying her a horse. I can stable it at the same livery that the college riding team uses. I would just use one of the college’s horses when we go riding, but I thought Miranda would really like a horse of her own. I know you are an expert, and I’m not, so I was hoping that perhaps while Dr. Davies is visiting the hospital, you and I might actually go and look at a stud farm here in the area and you could help me choose a mare.”

A.C., suspecting that William and his father were up to something, had deliberately hung back to catch what he could of their conversation. “I wanna come, too!” he said excitedly, but his father frowned.

“A.C., it is not polite to eavesdrop on private conversations,” he said sternly. William looked a bit uncomfortable at the inadvertent disclosure of his gift, but Adam, hoping to gain his son’s promise of discretion, added, “if you promise not to tell any of your sisters, you may come with us.” He turned to Dr. Davies. “If we’re not along, Tad, you can talk shop with the other doctors without any hindrance.” Dr. Davies smilingly nodded his assent.

Bronwen said firmly, “Remember, A.C. bach, this is a secret. Not a word to your sisters.”

“Okay,” A.C. agreed, pleased to be taken into the adults’ confidence. He also liked the idea of knowing something his sisters didn’t.

“This is a lovely town,” Mrs. Davies said that afternoon as the women and the younger children, after reconnecting at the hotel, left the business district and strolled along the banks of the Connecticut River. “So many beautiful trees.”

“I wonder what the fishing is like?” Gwyneth remarked, and the other women exchanged smiles.

“Don’t get too close to the water, Huw!” Beth called, as her youngest had moved just out of her reach and was headed straight for the river. “Huw!”

“I’ll get him,” Gwyneth said, knowing her long legs could get her there faster. She barely made it in time to catch him before he tumbled into the water.

“You certainly have an affinity for water, mate,” Gwyneth said, lifting her nephew high over her head while he chortled merrily. His laughter turned to tears as his mother delivered two quick swats to his bottom and scolded him for ignoring her call. Taking her sobbing baby boy into her arms, Beth laid his head against her shoulder and said to the others, “Poor A.C. I can’t believe he didn’t want to come with us. He’s probably bored with the hospital tour.”

“I think it’s nice he wanted to spend time with William but they’ll probably end up here at the river,” Miranda said. “William has a scull and he might take A.C. sculling.”

“Well, I hope your father doesn’t go with them,” Bronwen said tartly. “He’s still sore from the last time. He just doesn’t realize that he’s not as young as he used to be.” She knew William, Adam and A.C. wouldn’t get back from the stud farm in time to go sculling, and she was relieved that she didn’t have to worry about her husband overexerting himself.

“Let’s play rosie, Mama,” Elen said, tugging on Beth’s skirt.

“Ask me politely first,” Beth said and Elen stuck out her lip in a pout. “Let’s play rosie ¼” and Beth paused, waiting patiently.

Elen continued to scowl and then, just as suddenly, her expression brightened. “Please!” she shouted, and Beth bent down to give her a kiss and a hug, and then did the same to the now calm Huw. She looked at her mother and Bronwen said, “I’d love to play.”

Elen smiled at Mrs. Davies and said, “Play rosie, hennain?

Mrs. Davies smiled and reached down to cup Elen’s chubby cheek in her palm. “Na, Elen fach. If hennain falls down, she won’t be able to get back up. I’ll just watch the rest of you play.” Her heart warmed at the sight of the three generations playing the ancient game. Elen and Huw shrieked with laughter as everyone fell down.

After a couple of repetitions Bronwen said, “Why don’t we play London Bridge? Hennain and I can be the bridge.” The children were rolling on the ground giggling when the “bridge” fell down on their tall aunt.

As they walked back to the Wheelock, Beth said quietly to her sister, “This will be a wonderful place to raise children. I know you and William are going to be very happy here. I just wish Dafydd could have met William.”

“Maybe someday we’ll visit Cloncurry,” Miranda said. “I’d like my children to see where I grew up and to know their Cartwright relatives.” She said softly, “I understand now how hard it must have been for Daddy living so far from Grandpa, Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe.” The sisters, separated for so long by a vast ocean but never far from each other’s thoughts, put their arms about each other’s waists and walked quietly down the brick sidewalk, each savoring the closeness that was once an everyday occurrence.

While the women were shopping and playing with the children, Adam, William and A.C. were visiting a stud farm for Saddlebreds. The trio had accompanied Dr. Davies to the hospital, where he was greeted by the chief resident, for a tour of the facility, which William had arranged.

“I rode a Saddlebred when I spent the summer at my roommate’s farm in western Massachusetts,” Adam told William as they traveled in a rented buggy. “They have the smoothest gait of any horse I’ve ever ridden. Miranda is an experienced rider, but she’s not the equal of Beth or Gwyneth so we want to look for a horse that’s eager to please, not one that’s a handful.”

“I was thinking that we wouldn’t want one more than fourteen or fifteen hands,” William remarked and Adam nodded his agreement.

Adam was impressed by the stud farm, and the owner was impressed by Adam’s knowledge of horses. When he and William stated what they were looking for, the owner showed them three mares he thought met their criteria.

“These are fine animals,” Adam said after examining them. “I lean toward the mahogany bay.” He turned to his prospective son-in-law. “What about you, William? You’re the one who’s actually buying the horse.”

“But you’re the expert,” William replied. “I trust your judgment.” He and the owner finalized the transaction and then the three of them returned to Hanover.

The next morning the family again separated into two groups, though this time, they would not see each other again until they were reunited at the Ponderosa. William, Miranda, Adam and Bronwen were going to spend a few days visiting William’s parents in Wilmington while everyone else was headed west later in the day. (William had taken care of the new travel arrangements for everyone traveling to the Ponderosa while they were still in Boston.) Gwyneth and A.C. rode with their parents in a hackney cab to the station to say goodbye.

“I expect to hear a good report from Tad-cu and Mam-gu on your behavior, young man,” Adam said to A.C. before he and Bronwen boarded the train.

“Aw, Dad,” A.C. said, “I’m not a baby.”

Adam grinned. “No, you’re not but I hope you’re not too old to give your dad a hug?” and he held out his arms.

A.C. hugged him hard, saying, “Bye, Dad.”

“Goodbye, Jackeroo. I’ll see you in a few days.” He stepped back so Bronwen could say her goodbye.

“I’m going to miss you, A.C. bach, but I know you’ll be on your best behavior for your grandparents,” she said gently. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek and he hugged her back, reluctant to say goodbye. Realizing that he would be separated from both parents for the first time in his life, he suddenly didn’t feel so grown-up.

Gwyneth came and stood behind him, giving his neck an affectionate squeeze, and he smiled up at her gratefully. “A.C. will be fine,” she said to her parents with a smile before hugging them both. “I can hardly wait to hear what you think of Mrs. Gordon,” she whispered in her mother’s ear as she ended the embrace. Bronwen, giving her daughter a purposeful glance, then kissed her baby one last time and let William help her and Miranda board the train. Adam ruffled his youngest’s hair and caressed his daughter’s cheek with the back of his hand before moving up the stairs with William close behind. A.C. and his sister stood on the platform and waved until the train was out of sight.

“Miranda told me there is an ice cream parlor here in Hanover,” Gwyneth said cheerfully, seeing her baby brother was on the verge of tears. “Would you like some? My treat.”

“Right,” he replied, trying to grin bravely. “That’d be beaut.”

When they got back to the Wheelock, they found Dr. Davies waiting for them in the lobby along with the luggage, which he had arranged to have sent ahead to the train depot. As A.C. hurried upstairs to see Elen and Huw, Dr. Davies said quietly to Gwyneth, “I was beginning to worry.”

“I’m sorry, Tad-cu,” she replied in an equally quiet tone. “I bought A.C. some ice cream. He was missing Mama and Daddy and I thought it would cheer him up.”

“That was very sweet,” he said, putting his arm about her waist and giving her an affectionate squeeze.

{ { { {

“Mrs. Gordon asks that you join her in the drawing room when it’s convenient. She’s put you in the same room as last time, Miss Cartwright,” the parlor maid said when the three Cartwrights and William arrived at the Gordon’s townhouse.

“Right. We’ll meet you in a few minutes,” Miranda said to her parents before running up the stairs with William.

"If you'll follow me, Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright" the parlor maid said, "I'll show you to your rooms." Adam's eyebrow shot up at her use of the plural. He caught Bronwen's eye, and she shrugged slightly.

The maid led them up the stairs to the second floor and then down a hallway. "This is your room, ma'am," she said, opening the next to the last door in the hall and revealing a large bedroom papered with a floral design. It had a tall, narrow, many-paned window that overlooked the street, and a lovely high post bed, highboy and vanity made of mahogany.

“And this is your room, sir,” the maid said then, opening the door to the last room in the hall, which also had a window overlooking the street, but the walls were painted a pale green with ivory molding. It had a low post bed with a pineapple and ring design. The bed and highboy were made of tiger maple. “The chauffeur will bring up your luggage as soon as it arrives,” the maid said. She curtseyed and then hurried back down the hall.

“Which room do you want to use?” Bronwen asked with a giggle.

"I think I prefer yours, with you still in it,” he replied with a grin and she agreed.

"I would've liked to change before meeting Mrs. Gordon,” Bronwen commented as she stood in front of the room’s full-length mirror and looked at her reflection critically, "but since our trunk hasn't arrived, I suppose I'll have to go as I am.” She removed her hat, straightened the jacket of her tailor-made suit, and tried to smooth out the creases in the skirt. Adam wanted to loosen his high collar and remove his necktie, but with a sigh, he merely straightened it and then offered Bronwen his arm.

They met William and Miranda on the stairs and the four of them entered the drawing room together. Adam and Bronwen saw that Mrs. Gordon was an attractive woman around Bronwen’s age, elegantly dressed and coifed, her face a polite mask.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright, how nice to meet you,” she said, but there was no warmth in her voice or expression. "I trust your journey was without incident?"

"Yes, thank you," Adam replied as he and Bronwen seated themselves on a settee by Mrs. Gordon. William and Miranda sat on a matching settee across from her parents.

"This is a lovely room," Adam said admiringly. It was well-proportioned with a high ceiling and tall, narrow windows. It was painted robin's egg blue while all the Robert Adam style molding was painted white.

"Thank you," Mrs. Gordon replied complacently. Then in a brisk tone she added, “It will just be the six of us dining tonight. Tomorrow night I have invited my in-laws to dine since they are not able to attend the wedding.”

“We look forward to meeting them,” Bronwen said. “I am sorry we have such a short time to spend with you and Mr. Gordon before the wedding but I’m sure you can understand that when William and Miranda invited us to visit Hanover so we could see where they were going to live, we simply could not pass up that opportunity.”

“My husband and I have not been invited to visit,” Mrs. Gordon said in a frosty tone.

“The house isn’t totally furnished yet, Mother. We will certainly invite you to visit once we have settled in. However, it might be years before Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright visit the U.S. again, so we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity,” William said, already uncomfortable with his mother’s obvious resentment at being second in anything that involved him.

“My wife and I are both grateful for the chance to see their home and the community where they will live,” Adam said calmly. “As were Miranda’s sisters and her grandparents.”

“Don’t forget A.C.,” Bronwen added with a grin.

“A.C.?” Mrs. Gordon repeated.

“Our son, Adam, Jr. I didn’t want him called Junior,” Adam replied, “so his sisters decided to call him A.C. for Adam Cartwright.”

“Oh, I see,” Mrs. Gordon replied in a condescending tone. “I’ve always thought nicknames vulgar. I never allowed William to be called Willy or Billy.”

“I think nicknames are less stuffy and formal,” Bronwen replied with a smile, though her meaning was clear. “We named our oldest Elizabeth, but we’ve always called her Beth.”

“My youngest sister was Penelope, but she was always so dainty that Penelope just didn’t seem to fit so we called her Penny,” Miranda added, supporting her mother’s point of view.

“To each his own,” Mrs. Gordon replied with a sniff, indicating her contempt, and Bronwen could now appreciate why Miranda felt the way she did about her future mother-in-law,

William said quickly, “I was so glad to have the chance to meet Miranda’s sisters and brother. And my new niece and nephew are charming. Elen was just beginning to lose her shyness around me.”

“Well, William, they aren’t your niece and nephew yet, and charming is not usually a word associated with small children.” Turning to Adam and Bronwen, she then asked as an afterthought. “How old are your grandchildren?”

“Elen will be four this November and Huw was a year old in March,” Bronwen replied, trying hard not to let her dislike show in her expression or tone.

Before his future in-laws could respond to the slight against their grandchildren, William reasserted himself. “Elen is sweet, but she’s very shy. Huw, on the other hand, is as friendly as a puppy. And charming is the correct word for these particular children, Mother. They are well-behaved and quite a joy to be around.”

Mrs. Gordon felt she’d heard as much about the Cartwrights’ grandchildren as politeness dictated so she decided to change the subject. “I’m not familiar with the customs of the ¼um ¼ frontier. After the wedding ceremony, will there be some sort of celebration?”

“While only our immediate family and close friends will be at the wedding ceremony, all the hands and the Ponderosa’s neighbors are invited to the reception afterward,” Miranda said coolly.

“So it will be a formal occasion?” Mrs. Gordon inquired.

“Formal in Nevada is different from formal here in New England,” Adam replied, having had the benefit of living in both venues. “I imagine we’ll barbecue a steer and have some side dishes, and there will be some dancing outside in the yard. Then after William and Miranda leave, there’ll be a shivaree.”

“Shivaree?” Miranda asked.

“Oh, it’s a mock serenade we have for newlyweds. Uncle Joe and I will keep it from getting out of hand,” Adam assured her while Mrs. Gordon’s face expressed her scorn at such backwards attempts at honoring the couple.

Bronwen decided she’d had all she could take of the haughty Mrs. Gordon and spoke up. “I’m afraid I developed a headache on our journey. Would you excuse me, Mrs. Gordon?”

“Of course,” Mrs. Gordon replied. “Dinner is in two hours and I hope you’ll be feeling better then.”

“I’m sure I will. I’m just tired,” Bronwen replied, and to herself finished the sentence of you.

Not wanting to be left alone with this unbearable woman, Adam quickly inserted “I think I’d like to rest as well.” Mrs. Gordon nodded, so they left, leaving William and Miranda to their fate.

Adam ran his fingers around his neck and scowled at the high collar the salesman at Bloomingdale’s had insisted was de rigueur for formal attire. Then with a sigh, he attempted to tie the strip of black cambric into an acceptable bow. “Sweetheart,” he called from the bedroom the Gordons had assigned to him, which he had decided to use as a dressing room, “Could you come tie this confounded tie for me? I seem to be all thumbs.”

“I’ll be there in just a minute,” she called from their bedroom. Adam’s eyes traveled over her appreciatively as she entered the room, wearing one of her new evening gowns. It had the simple style that she knew he liked her to wear: a plain skirt of crimped lilac taffeta edged with two narrow frills at the hem, while the bodice had a square décolletage trimmed with velvet. The outfit was completed by a velvet sash that emphasized her slender waist. He knew she was wearing a corset because she looked as slender as the day they married. Her hair, now silvery white, had been combed over pads to create a fashionably bouffant look and was arranged carefully atop her head in a knot. As a finishing touch, she was wearing the amethyst and diamond earrings he’d given her for their first Christmas.

“Sweetheart, you take my breath away,” he said in a low husky voice.

“You’re making my heart race,” she whispered as she thought how handsome he was dressed in the black dinner jacket that set off his broad shoulders and slim waist. He was still the handsomest man she’d ever seen.

“I don’t suppose we could send our excuses to the Gordons?” he asked softly as he lightly caressed her slender neck with his fingertips.

“I’m tempted, but no,” she replied with a tiny smile. “Miranda would be mortified. Now, let me fix your tie.”

“I suppose anticipation will simply add to our enjoyment later tonight,” he added with a knowing wink. “We’re going to have to send A.C. to stay with Rhys and Matilda some night and I want you to wear that dress just for me.” He smiled when he saw her milky-white skin flush with color. She finished with his tie so he offered her his arm.

“Wait,” she said, and he chuckled when she went into their room, removed her spectacles, and set them on the vanity.

“I take it you don’t want to see Miranda’s future in-laws?” he asked wryly.

“Not particularly,” she replied with a little grin, “and I want to look my best when I meet that odious woman again.”

“I prefer that I’m the only one who sees how beautiful your eyes are,” he said in the low tone that always made her shiver with delight. “However, I suppose it’s in a good cause,” he added with a wink.

He saw with satisfaction the appreciation in Mr. Gordon’s eyes and the envy in Mrs. Gordon’s when they met them in the drawing room. Mrs. Gordon was attractive enough, although the frown lines in her forehead were deeply etched, but compared to Bronwen, her figure was gross and fleshy and she looked much older than her contemporary. Adam was proud of the fact no one looking at Bronwen would ever think she’d borne him five children. He also thought her pure white hair was lovelier than the clearly artificial gold of Mrs. Gordon’s. Bronwen’s greatest assets were always her charm and vivacity, two qualities that Mrs. Gordon was sadly lacking.

“Mrs. Cartwright, may I express my admiration,” Mr. Gordon said, taking her hand and kissing it, with more warmth than Adam thought was necessary. “It will be my pleasure to escort you to dinner.”

“And mine to escort you, Mrs. Gordon,” Adam said, trying to sound gallant, even though his attention was directed at the way Mr. Gordon was looking at Bronwen and he inadvertently avoided eye contact with his dinner partner, which only made Mrs. Gordon even more incensed. Miranda and William, who had remained silent during this conversation, now exchanged uneasy, though slightly bemused, glances.

“You know, Mrs. Cartwright, you have extraordinary eyes; I have never seen any that color before,” Mr. Gordon said as he seated Bronwen on his right. “They remind me of violets in the spring.”

“Did you misplace your spectacles?” Mrs. Gordon inquired spitefully.

“Oh, I don’t wear them that often,” Bronwen replied airily, which caused Miranda’s eyebrows to shoot up and Adam to clear his throat noisily. Seeing both their expressions caused William to stifle his laugh in his hand.

Mr. Gordon glared at his wife for her rudeness and then said with a smile directed toward Bronwen, “So what do you think of our part of the country, Mrs. Cartwright? How does it compare with Queensland?”

“Queensland is nothing like Delaware,” Bronwen said with a smile. “For one thing, it’s much cooler here. The weather today felt like our winter.”

“Surely you exaggerate,” Mrs. Gordon said.

“No, my wife is quite correct,” Adam stated. “We’ve lived in Queensland for twenty-four years and I can only remember one or two times the temperature fell below fifty degrees.”

“I remember the hottest day,” Miranda interjected. “It was two years before I came to Boston.”

“That’s right,” Adam said. “It was January 16, 1889. The temperature reached 127 degrees.”

“Good God!” Mr. Gordon said with feeling. “Beg pardon, ladies,” he added quickly.

“We spent most of that day at the river, swimming,” Bronwen said.

“Swimming?” Mrs. Gordon repeated, her tone indicating only the vulgar masses would indulge in the activity.

“I’m sure you must be very fetching in a bathing costume,” Mr. Gordon said to Bronwen, and William, seeing Adam’s fierce glower, said quickly, “Have I told you what a splendid equestrienne Miranda is? She told me that you taught her to ride, Mr. Cartwright.”

“Yes, Daddy taught all of us to ride,” Miranda chimed in. “We each got our first pony on our fourth birthday.”

“I would have preferred to wait until they turned five, but my husband convinced me that four was old enough. Our granddaughter turns four this November, and he will be giving her riding lessons then,” Bronwen said, smiling at William for his obvious redirection of the conversation.

“It’s hard to believe you have grandchildren,” Mr. Gordon said to Bronwen, smiling warmly.

She returned his smile, saying, “You flatter me. Actually, we just learned that our third grandchild is due in December.”

“My wife,” Adam stated, stressing the possessive pronoun, “is a doting grandmother.”

“Yes, but my husband is the one who spoils our grandchildren,” Bronwen said, smiling at Adam, while Miranda blinked in surprise.

“I’m looking forward to being a grandfather myself,” Mr. Gordon stated. “Seeing the next generation of Gordons. Perhaps your son will want to join the family firm,” he added, directing a frown at William.

“Perhaps, but he might chose to be an historian, engineer or architect,” William replied evenly, his tone imparting his opinion on the subject of the “family firm”.

“Or even a cowboy,” Miranda added, earning a disapproving stare from her in-laws to be.

“The point is, it will be his choice,” William said firmly.

“A father likes to see his son follow in his footsteps. Don’t you agree, Mr. Cartwright?”

“Well, yes,” Adam said slowly. “I think young Adam will study engineering at the Sydney Technical College and then join our mining company.”

“But if he did choose another career, you’d accept it?” William asked.

“I wouldn’t have much choice, would I?” Adam replied, surprised at William’s intensity. “But he’s always talked of becoming an engineer.”

“How old is your son?” Mr. Gordon asked.

“He’s ten,” Bronwen said.

“When William was ten, he still talked of joining the family law firm,” Mr. Gordon stated.

Bronwen saw the concern in her husband’s eyes and she realized it had never occurred to him that A.C. might not want to be an engineer, and he clearly didn’t like that idea. Don’t borrow trouble, she told herself firmly. A.C. is always talking about when he and Llywelyn run the mining company instead of Adam and Rhys.

“We’ll have a chance to meet the lad ourselves,” Mr. Gordon continued, “when we’re all in Nevada for the wedding.”

“Yes, you’ll be able to meet all our children and grandchildren,” Bronwen said with a proud smile.

“I thought you told us that your oldest sister wouldn’t be able to attend?” Mrs. Gordon queried, suddenly realizing that if Miranda’s older sister was in attendance, surely her two small children would also be involved in the wedding celebration as well.

“I didn’t think she would, but her husband wanted her to be here so she and the children traveled with Mama and Daddy,” Miranda answered. “Beth will be my Matron of Honor.”

“That’s nice,” Mr. Gordon said, as his wife gave a thin lipped smile that showed her disappointment at Miranda’s pronouncement. In her opinion, children should be banned from such events until they were old enough to sit quietly and speak only when spoken to. Given her future daughter-in-law’s outspokenness, she could already envision how her grandchildren would be raised. I must make a note to inquire as to a proper nursemaid as soon as we return from that God-forsaken wilderness, she thought anxiously. I must have as much influence on my grandchildren’s upbringing as possible to counteract their mother’s highly opinioned nature, which is so unbecoming in a woman!

Oblivious as always to his wife’s plans, Mr. Gordon turned to more important matters. “I read in the paper that Germany and Great Britain have sent fleets to Manila Bay and the Germans are ignoring Dewey’s blockade,” and the conversation moved to a discussion of America’s war with Spain.

Unfortunately, since it became clear almost immediately that Mr. Gordon and Adam held diametrically opposed views, that wasn’t a safe topic either. However, Adam saw the pleading look his wife was giving him, and when Mr. Gordon finally stopped pontificating, he only said mildly, “Of course the newspapers in Queensland report the British point of view.” Mrs. Gordon took control of the conversation then and she did steer them toward neutral topics. Mr. Gordon continued to flirt with Bronwen throughout the evening and although she did not encourage him, a part of her enjoyed having another man pay her compliments.

When Adam and Bronwen were alone in their room, he was very quiet as he took off his dinner jacket and carefully hung it in the wardrobe and then removed the gold cufflinks she’d given him their first Christmas together and placed them on the vanity. He turned slowly to gaze at her with smoldering eyes and said, “You enjoyed flirting with Gordon tonight.”

“Maybe just a little,” she admitted with an impish grin as she finished removing her earrings and placed them by his cufflinks. “But what do I care about Mr. Gordon when I have you? You’re still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.” She stood on her tiptoes and pulled his mouth to hers.

When the kiss ended, he let his fingertips lightly caress her neck and shoulders as he asked, “Would you like some help undressing?”

“If you wish,” she replied, lowering her eyes.

He began by peeling off her elbow-length gloves, slowly and sensuously, dropping kisses down her sensitive inner arm and wrist, leaving her breathless. Then, as he kissed her neck and bare shoulders, his hands reached around to unfasten her bodice and untie the sash at her waist. He pulled her bodice off, revealing her black sateen corset, embroidered with crimson roses.

“Now it’s my turn,” she whispered. She unfastened the black bow tie and then unbuttoned the starched white shirt, running her fingertips through the thick mat of hair she exposed. She pulled down his suspenders and then tugged off the shirt, her hands caressing his hard, muscular arms and back. He bent down and kissed her deeply as he unfastened and then removed her corset. Her skirt went next, pooling at her feet, and she stood in the pretty frou-frou petticoat he’d given her. Before moving to the bed, he unpinned her hair and watched the silvery white tresses cascade past her hips.

Afterward she lay astride him, their bodies still joined, both reluctant to separate. He felt rather than heard her soft giggles.

“What’s so funny?” he whispered, gently caressing her cheek.

“I was just thinking how surprised the maid will be when she discovers one of our rooms wasn’t used tonight.”

The previous evening, Mrs. Gordon had announced that they were expecting several callers who were anxious to meet the Cartwrights so Bronwen was very glad she’d taken Miranda’s advice and bought a tea-gown at Bloomingdale’s. The pale green cashmere gown had a close-fitting bodice and bell-shaped skirt. “What do you think?” she asked Adam as she did a slow pirouette.

“I think I’m glad Mr. Gordon has to go to the office today,” he said with a slow smile.

“Well, all the ladies who call are going to be jealous of me,” she replied, reaching up to straighten his necktie. “Your morning coat is very flattering.”

“I’m glad you like it because I hate wearing this necktie,” he complained. “At least I can fold this collar over but I still feel like I’m being choked.”

“In a few more days we’ll be back at the Ponderosa and you won’t have to dress up except for the wedding. Besides, I know your collar and necktie cannot possibly be more uncomfortable than this corset.”

He grinned at that saying, “You’re probably correct.” Just then there was a knock at the door and Miranda called, “Mama, are you ready to go down to breakfast?”

Adam opened the door and saw the startled look on William’s face, while Miranda merely grinned at her father as she gave him a peck on the cheek. “Good morning, you two. I think your mother is just applying the finishing touches to her hair,” he said to Miranda. “Come in, won’t you?”

“I’m glad to see you’re wearing your spectacles today,” Miranda said to her mother, who was just putting the last comb in her hair. “Why ever did you tell that fib about not wearing them often?”

Bronwen sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, William, but I just didn’t want to look dowdy next to your mother.”

“You certainly weren’t dowdy,” William said with a grin. “I didn’t know my father even knew how to flirt, but he was certainly taken with you.”

“That was obvious,” Adam said sarcastically.

“I predict that this morning all the ladies are going to be flirting with you,” Bronwen said, putting her hand on his arm, and they exchanged a warm, loving smile.

William and Miranda followed the older couple and he said very quietly, “Your parents really love each other.”

“Yes, they do. And I know I’ll love you just as much when I’m Mama’s age as I do now. We’re going to have a marriage just as wonderful as theirs,” she said earnestly.

“I hope so,” he replied, bringing her hand to his lips. He’d never realized a husband and wife might choose to share a bedroom even after there was no more hope of children—certainly his parents didn’t, nor any of his friends’ parents. The way Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright looked at each other and the way they touched he was sure that they were still lovers. That was the kind of marriage that he wanted to have with Miranda—a marriage of true minds where love did not alter with the passing years. How did Shakespeare put it? he thought. Oh yes. ‘Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks/But bears it out even to the edge of doom.’

The first callers that morning were Mr. Gordon’s sisters, Mrs. Logan and Mrs. McKean. As they entered the room and Adam stood, they exchanged quick glances. They hadn’t expected that their nephew’s future father-in-law would be such an imposing man, or such an attractive one. They’d actually expected a crude lout—not this elegant and courtly gentleman. Mrs. Cartwright, too, was different than they had imagined. They’d had a mental picture of a large woman with coarse features dressed in clothing that would have been fashionable a decade earlier. Instead, they saw a delicate little woman who appeared somewhat spinsterish behind her spectacles but whose clothing was à la page.

After the initial introductions had been made, Mr. Gordon’s older sister, Mrs. Logan, said coquettishly, “It’s easy to see where your daughter gets her looks, Mr. Cartwright.”

“Thank you,” he replied, allowing his lips to quirk up in a slight smile, as he glanced over at his wife to gauge her response to the older woman’s barely concealed flirtation. Bronwen, able to assess the situation for what it was, gave him a bright smile in return.

Mrs. Logan then added in a condescending tone, “Is this your first visit to the United States, Mrs. Cartwright?”

Bronwen smiled slightly and replied, “This is my first visit to Delaware, but I’ve visited Boston four times now and Nevada ¼” She paused and Adam inserted smoothly, “Six times.”

“Thank you, cariad,” she replied with a smile. “My husband and Miranda are the mathematicians in the family. But I digress. I’ve been fortunate enough to see several of your states on the trip from Nevada to New England. Your country has such a variety of landscapes and climates that it is always a fascinating journey. I confess I grow a bit weary of the weeks onboard ship when there is nothing to see but water in every direction.”

Since neither Mrs. Logan nor Mrs. McKean had ever left Wilmington, they had nothing to add. Mrs. Gordon said, “I’ve been lucky enough to visit London and Paris. Travel can be so broadening.”

“Paris and London are both beautiful cities,” Adam agreed. “I think I preferred Rome because of the ruins. Of course the Acropolis and the pyramids are magnificent. I marvel that ancient man was able to create and build such amazing and awe-inspiring monuments.”

“I didn’t realize you were a world traveler, Mr. Cartwright,” Mrs. Gordon said, sounding miffed that she had been upstaged by these highly unorthodox people.

“I traveled in Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land. I was planning on visiting the Orient after my visit to the continent of Australia. However, I met my wife and decided to settle in Queensland.”

“For which I am profoundly grateful,” William said, smiling adoringly at Miranda. “Just as I’m grateful you allowed Miranda to attend the Girls’ Latin School and Radcliffe. I can’t imagine my life without her.”

“I wish you weren’t having the wedding in Nevada. That is simply too far for me and my husband to travel,” Mrs. McKean said with a sniff.

“Having the wedding at the Ponderosa was the only way my father could attend,” Adam said quietly, “so I’m grateful to Miranda and William.”

“Oh, I d-didn’t realize,” Mrs. McKean stuttered, surprised that anyone with grandchildren would have a parent still living.

“It’s too bad that you can’t come, Aunt Sophie,” William said. “The ranch house is magnificent.” He turned to Adam and said with obvious sincerity, “I’m surprised you didn’t pursue a career in architecture, sir. Especially since Miranda tells me the house you designed for your family in Queensland is as lovely as the house on the Ponderosa.”

“Thank you,” Adam replied with a little smile. “I enjoy both architecture and engineering, but it was easier then to pursue a career as an engineer. And I’ve been lucky enough to have some opportunities to use my skills as an architect.”

Mrs. Logan turned to William and Miranda. “Since the wedding is only two weeks away, are you two getting nervous?”

“A bit,” Miranda confessed.

“I don’t think I am,” William said. “We still have to buy a few pieces of furniture, but basically our home is all ready for us and I’m eager to come home every night to find my beautiful wife waiting for me.” He brought Miranda’s hand to his lips and dropped a kiss on the palm. Both of his aunts and his mother were shocked at the young man’s display of affection for his intended, though a bit of envy was evident as they noted the adoration in William’s eyes.

“I suppose I’m a bit nervous because married life will be so different from being a student,” Miranda commented.

“It certainly will be,” Mrs. Gordon said with a sneer. “I cannot see the point in young women attending college. College won’t teach them how to be good wives.”

“We don’t attend college so we’ll learn how to be good wives any more than young men attend to learn how to be good husbands, and why should we?” Miranda said, her eyes alight with righteous indignation. “A woman’s life shouldn’t revolve around her husband and children. She is a person in her own right with her own dreams, her own needs.”

William’s aunts and mother look scandalized while Bronwen, highly disturbed at her daughter’s less than respectful tone, said firmly, “When your children are very young, your life must revolve around them because they need you so much. When they grow older and can do things for themselves, then you can attend to your own needs.” Miranda nodded slowly, her head bowed as she felt her mother’s flashing violet eyes upon her. Seeing that her words had the invoked the intended response in her daughter, Bronwen continued in a tone of mild rebuke. “When you truly love someone, I think you put his needs first.”

Mrs. Gordon said sanctimoniously, “It is a wife’s duty to obey her husband.” The effect was spoiled by William’s hastily suppressed snort of laughter, and his aunts had to hide their smiles at the thought of their haughty sister-in-law as an obedient wife.

“You’re right, of course, Mama; I will put William’s needs first,” Miranda said quietly, a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Just as I will put yours first,” William said earnestly, earning an approving smile from his future father-in-law. “After all, St. Paul also says husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies,” and he reached for Miranda’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

Just then the maid announced the arrival of the wife of Mr. Gordon’s younger brother, and her married daughter, who was two years older than Miranda. Mrs. Florence Gordon’s eyes traveled appreciatively over Adam and she smiled flirtatiously when she offered her hand, causing Bronwen to wink mischievously at her husband.

“So will any other members of your family be attending the wedding?” Mrs. Stedman inquired politely after she and her mother had seated themselves.

“Yes, both my sisters and my brother are traveling to the Ponderosa right now along with my niece and nephew,” Miranda replied.

“And my parents,” Bronwen added.

“My goodness, your side of the family will certainly be well represented,” Mrs. Florence Gordon said.

“My husband and I will be attending the wedding,” Mrs. Logan interjected with a smile. “He is eager to renew his acquaintance with your father, Mr. Cartwright.”

“I’m sure my father will be most happy to see him again,” Adam said, returning her smile.

“You mentioned your niece and nephew,” Mrs. Stedman said. “How old are they?”

“Elen is three and a half and Huw just turned a year old,” Miranda replied. “Your Alice comes right between them, doesn’t she?”

For the next few minutes the conversation centered on babies and Adam allowed his concentration to wander and was caught off guard when he felt Bronwen’s hand on his sleeve.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly.

“That’s all right,” Mrs. McKean said with a coquettish smile. “I’m sure all this talk of babies can’t be very interesting to you and William. I was just asking if it were true that you were a cowboy at one time.”

“Yes, it’s true,” he replied.

“That must have been an exciting life,” she said enthusiastically.

“Sometimes,” he answered with his little half smile. “There’s nothing exciting about rounding up strays or branding calves, but a cattle drive can have its exciting moments. The cattle might stampede, and I’ve known cases where drovers were trampled to death. Or rustlers may follow along just looking for an opportunity to steal some of your cattle, and that may involve gunplay.”

“Did you carry a gun?” Mrs. Stedman asked excitedly.

“Yes,” he replied. “I have had to draw on men,” he added, seeing the speculation on her face, “but only as a last resort.” He did not elaborate on the number of times he had had to kill or be killed. “Mostly I’ve shot rattlesnakes. We have even more venomous snakes in the outback, so I wear a gun every day when I ride to our mine and back home.”

“We have two dogs that are excellent at killing snakes and other vermin,” Bronwen added.

“Two?” Miranda said. “Oh yes, I forgot about Lady’s pup.”

“I can’t imagine a dog killing a snake,” Mrs. Logan said with a shudder.

“These terriers are bred with a thick rough coat and an even thicker ruff around their neck to protect them, and they are very quick,” Adam stated. “They’re not invulnerable though; our first dog died as a result of snakebite, but she killed the snake.”

“Poor Belle,” Miranda said softly and William gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

“Did you ever have to fight any Indians?” Mrs. Stedman asked curiously.

“Yes,” Adam replied. “I was nearly killed in an Indian attack, but it never would have happened if it hadn’t been for the cruelty and barbarity of some soldiers. You see, under the guise of signing a peace treaty with the Indians, they poisoned Apache men, women and children. Naturally the relatives of those slain wanted revenge and they pursued the soldiers from Arizona to Nevada. One of the soldiers managed to escape them and entered our camp. My father and brothers and I were returning from a cattle drive and we just happened to be setting up camp where the Apaches had been chasing the soldiers. I made what in retrospect I realize was a stupid decision and tried to leave our camp to fill our canteens and was shot by the Apaches. My youngest brother risked his own life to save me. Eventually everything was sorted out: the soldier was turned over to the army to be court-martialed, Cochise led his warriors back home, and the army surgeon was able to remove the bullet and save my life.”

“I find it hard to believe a soldier in the United States Army would poison women and children,” Mrs. Gordon said stiffly.

“The man admitted it freely. My brothers said he seemed proud of his action and felt he should be commended,” Adam replied in a soft but authoritative tone. “I was in shock and not really aware of what was happening but I know my brothers wouldn’t lie and I know the soldier was court-martialed.”

There was silence for a few moments and then Mrs. Logan said quietly, “My sister-in-law said that you were going to visit Hanover before traveling here.”

“Yes,” Bronwen said with a smile. “We were all happy to have a chance to see where Miranda and William will be living.”

“Your grandson and granddaughter are your oldest daughter’s children, correct?” Mrs. Florence Gordon asked, and Bronwen nodded. “Is your third daughter married? Or your son?”

“I suspect we will be planning Gwyneth’s marriage in the near future,” Bronwen replied, “but our son is only ten, so he won’t be getting married for a few years yet,” she added with a smile.

“You’ve been living in this country for a number of years,” Mrs. Stedman remarked to Miranda, “so your brother must have been quite young when you left.”

“Yes, he was only three when I left to attend the Girls Latin School but I saw him three years later when I traveled home for my older sister’s wedding. Then I saw him four years ago when I graduated, and I wrote to him regularly. When he was old enough, then he wrote to me.” She sighed. “But it wasn’t the same thing as being there when he was growing up. He is so tall now that he’s actually a quarter inch taller than Mama and I are.”

“At age ten?” Mrs. Gordon said disbelievingly.

“He is a very tall ten-year-old,” William agreed. “He looks more like twelve.”

“He takes after his father,” Bronwen said proudly and William added, “So does Gwyneth; she’s about a half-inch taller than I am. A very striking young woman.”

“Beth is the real beauty of the family,” Miranda added. She added teasingly to William, “She is lovelier than I am, admit it.”

“In my eyes, you are the most beautiful creature in the universe,” William said gallantly while Miranda rolled her eyes.

“All our daughters are lovely,” Adam inserted, “and talented, just like their mother.” Bronwen blushed prettily at this comment, and Mrs. Gordon again felt a pang of envy at the obvious adoration that was in evidence each time Miranda’s parents looked at or spoke to one another. It had been a very long time since her own husband had voiced such compliments about her. She sighed and looked down at her hands as the visitors continued to chat about the upcoming nuptials.

More of William’s aunts and cousins continued to visit throughout the morning, and were all expected back that evening to enjoy a family gathering in the engaged couple’s honor. The three Cartwrights, William and his mother all had lunch together but then William took his future in-laws sightseeing, while his mother begged off with needing to pack for the trip west. They saw the Holy Trinity Church, which had been built in 1689 by a group of Swedish Lutherans, and then went to Market Street where Bronwen and Miranda shopped at the Five Cent Store. Adam was interested in the Equitable Building, which had been constructed eight years earlier and was an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style he’d read about.

Dinner that evening was an interesting experience as Bronwen later commented to Adam while they snuggled in the large high post bed. She’d worn her other new evening gown of deep emerald satin with a v-shaped décolletage, and once again left her spectacles behind. Mr. Gordon was less obvious in his attentions to her, but they still drew raised eyebrows among his family. However, Mrs. Gordon’s air of superiority and condescension had not made her popular among her in-laws and the older women enjoyed her discomfiture. William’s cousins, on the other hand, were frankly shocked at the behavior of their normally staid elders.

Adam, Bronwen, Miranda and William all left for the Ponderosa the next morning; the Gordons and the Logans were traveling together two days later, planning to arrive the afternoon before the wedding and leave the day after. Adam and Bronwen were pleased with the opportunity to get to know William better, and the more they saw the two young people together, the more confident they were that he would be a good husband to Miranda.

{ { { {

Bronc drove the surrey and Jacob drove the buckboard to meet the Cartwrights and the Davies when their train arrived in Carson City. “I’m shore lookin’ forward to seein’ Miss Sarah,” Bronc commented to Jacob. “And of course, Benj,” he added.

“She and A.C. will keep everyone on their toes and no mistake,” Jacob agreed in his rich baritone. “Not to mention little Miss Elen and Huw.” He smiled at the older man then saying, “I ain’t never seen Mr. Ben so happy. Just think, all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be here together at the ranch.”

“No one deserves it more neither,” Bronc said. He shook his head a bit and added, “You never got a chance to see Mr. Ben and his three sons but I tell you, Jacob, I never saw a family as close as they were. The boys were so different, but they loved each other the ways brothers should. It was hard on the whole family when they learned Adam had made up his mind first to go travelin’ to foreign parts and then to settle in a foreign land; first time he brought his family for a visit when Miss Beth and Miss Miranda were just babies, they all hoped he’d decide to stay. Broke Mr. Ben’s heart when he made it clear he was returnin’ to Queensland and takin’ those darlin’ little girls with him.”

“Why’d he go? He had to have known he was hurtin’ his family,” Jacob said.

“In some ways Adam’s the most like his pa and he wanted to build his own dream,” Bronc answered slowly. “Mr. Ben understood that and I don’t think he ever let Adam know just how much it hurt to let him go off on his own.”

“I guess now that Miss Miranda is going to be living here in the States, Mr. Adam’s beginning to find out what it’s like,” Jacob said and Bronc nodded.

“I expect you’re right. But like I said, he takes after his pa, and he’ll never let her know how much it hurts him neither.”

Both men’s jaws dropped when they saw Joe help Annabelle alight from the train, and then they exchanged puzzled looks. Sarah spotted them immediately and ran toward them calling, “Hello, Bronc! Hello, Jacob!”

“Hello, Miss Sarah,” both men said. They looked for the rest of the party, but saw only Benj and his mother with Joe. “Where are your cousins?” Bronc asked, trying not to sound worried.

“Oh, they’ll be here in a couple of days,” Sarah answered and the others approached then.

“Hello, Bronc, Jacob,” Annabelle said coolly.

“Ma’am,” they both replied, tipping their Stetsons.

“I expect you’re wondering where everyone else is,” Joe said with a grin. “They all went to Hanover to see where Miranda and William will live; they should be here in a couple of days. Adam and Bronwen and the bride and groom will arrive as scheduled.”

“We’ll take care of your luggage,” Bronc said. “The surrey’s right over there.”

“Thanks,” Joe said with a bigger grin. “See you back at the ranch.” He offered Annabelle his arm and the four of them walked toward the surrey.

“If that don’t beat all,” Bronc said.

“I hope she’s home for good,” Jacob said softly. “I think it’ll kill Joe if she leaves him again.”

Ben was able to hide his surprise much better than Bronc and Jacob had and made his daughter-in-law welcome. Like Jacob, however, he hoped she was back to stay. He could see that was what Joseph was hoping for as well.

Joe was happier than he’d been in years. That first night in Boston after he’d brought the children back to the row house, Annabelle had been warm and friendly and the old passion had reignited. He hadn’t let Adam or the others know that he’d spent the night in Annabelle’s bed and he’d slipped away before the children woke up. They’d been together every night in Boston and it had been easier than he’d imagined to persuade her to come back home with him. He smiled as he remembered how worried Sarah had been about her Billy Boy until Kathleen had promised that she’d look after him. Somehow he didn’t think the little bird would survive the journey from Boston, but they’d find him a new owner and Sarah would have her beloved pony, Applesauce, to take her mind off the little parakeet. Benj really liked his preparatory school, but he’d been happy before attending school in Carson City and had friends there, so Joe was sure he’d readjust. It would just be so wonderful to have them all together as a family, and it would mean so much to Pa as well.

The others arrived a few days later and everything was wonderful. Benj remained aloof but Joe told himself it was just that he was older than Sarah and A.C. but much younger than his older cousins. He offered to take the boys fishing and they both eagerly accepted. Gwyneth asked if she could come as well.

“Do you bait your own hook nowadays?” Joe asked teasingly and grinned as she shook her head.

“Douglas always does it for her,” A.C. said, surprised when his sister turned red. “I’ll do it for you, sis,” he offered magnanimously.

As they sat quietly at the fishing hole, A.C. said sadly, “I wish Mama and Dad would hurry up and get here.”

“Missing them?” Joe asked, giving his nephew’s neck a friendly squeeze.

“A bit,” A.C. admitted cautiously. “They always come in and kiss me goodnight. Course, I’m too old to miss that,” he added quickly and looked at the others pugnaciously as if daring them to contradict him.

“Oh, when I was your age I still liked your grandpa to come tuck me in,” Joe said casually and saw his nephew’s features relax.

“Me and Dafydd are gonna teach Huw to fish when he’s bigger,” A.C. then said and his sister arched one eyebrow and said sarcastically, “I hope you’re going to teach him to be quiet.”

She looked and sounded so much like Adam that Joe blinked while A.C. stuck out his tongue. He took the hint, however. They returned to the ranch house with a nice string of trout and Buckshot made them clean the fish before he fried them for dinner.

A couple of days later when they were all gathered around the table eating breakfast, Joe asked A.C. if he wanted to come with him to meet his parents, Miranda and William at the depot.

“Too right!” A.C. exclaimed and Joe said, “I’ll take that as a yes,” and grinned at his nephew.

“Me go!” Huw announced, though everyone suspected he had responded in an effort to copy his uncle’s response.

“No, sweetie, you’re staying with Mama,” Beth said with a smile.

“No, me go Me-ma, Pa-pa,” Huw repeated more forcefully and everyone was surprised that Huw had deduced that it was his grandparents that Joe had been referring to.

“No, Huw,” Beth said more firmly. “You can see Me-ma and Pa-pa when they get here.”

“Me go!” the little boy repeated, sticking out his lip in a pout.

“I see there’s more Cartwright in you than I realized,” Joe said with a giggle while the women frowned at him.

“Please don’t encourage him, Uncle Joe,” Beth said.

“I’m sorry,” Joe said contritely, but couldn’t hold back a chuckle at the stubborn look on his grandnephew’s normally cheerful face. Ben’s eyes were alight with the memory of Hoss as a baby, declaring his intentions in a similar way when his big brother was about to do something that he wanted to do, too.

No more was said about it and Beth assumed her baby had forgotten his declaration, but as soon as she lifted him out of his highchair to the floor he ran toward the front door shouting, “Me go Me-ma, Pa-pa!”

“Huw Adda Jones! You come back here this instant!” Beth called running after him while Elen gleefully announced, “Huw’s bad!”

“Aw, Beth, why don’t you let him come?” Joe called, earning a glare from his wife. Beth returned carrying a sobbing Huw, who’d had his little behind spanked for his disobedience.

“Why can’t he come, sis?” A.C. asked. “I’d watch him and I bet Mama and Dad would be glad to see him.”

Beth wanted to be firm but seeing her uncle, brother and son’s eyes all looking at her beseechingly, she caved in. “Huw bach, you mustn’t ever talk back to Mama or she has to have a necessary talk with you. But, since your Uncle Joe and your Uncle A.C. have both asked, you may go with them to meet Me-ma and Pa-pa.” Huw grinned through his tears and she put him on his feet. He ran over and grabbed Joe’s hand and began tugging.

“Go Me-ma, Pa-pa, Unca Joe” he declared.

“Whoa, little buddy,” Joe said, tousling the child’s thick mop of hair. “Uncle A.C. and I have to go hitch up the team first.”

“C’mon, Huw bach,” Beth said, taking his hand, “you and I will sit on the porch and wait.”

The first thing Adam and Bronwen heard as they stepped off the train onto the platform was Huw’s high-pitched voice shrieking, “Me-ma! Pa-pa!” Adam could see his younger brother struggling to keep hold of a wriggling Huw so, taking Bronwen’s arm, he guided her toward their grandson as quickly as he could. He plucked Huw out of Joe’s arms and tossed him overhead. “Did you miss Me-ma and Pa-pa?” he asked the giggling toddler while A.C. hugged his mama and Joe stood by beaming. William and Miranda caught up then, a bit breathless.

“Jacob drove the buckboard,” Joe said. “We’ll load the trunks—except yours, William—and then I’ll go back to the ranch with Jacob, and Adam can take everyone else in the surrey. We’re planning on you eating dinner with us, William, but I guess you’ll want to register at the hotel first.”

“Yes, and I’ll need to have my trunk delivered there.”

“Jacob and I might as well deliver your trunk to the hotel,” Joe said with a grin, “since it’s on our way.”

“Thanks, Uncle Joe,” William said with a matching grin.

“I’ll come with you to the hotel,” Miranda declared and Adam said, “I think the rest of us will just wait for you two at the surrey.” As they walked along Bronwen asked A.C., “What have you been doing while we’ve been away?”

“One day Uncle Joe took me and Benj and Gwyneth fishing,” A.C. said with a grin. “Gwyneth caught the most trout,” he said in disgust but then added with a grin, “That made Benj mad. He doesn’t think girls should be better than boys at fishing and riding, but Gwyneth’s better than he is at both.”

“A.C.,” Adam said warningly.

“But she is, Dad! Uncle Joe says she rides better than any other woman he’s ever seen. Benj isn’t bad; he just isn’t as good as Gwyneth. Or me,” he added, trying to look modest, but not succeeding very well.

“I’m sure there are things Benj can do better than you,” Bronwen said and A.C. nodded reluctantly.

“Yesterday, Uncle Joe let me and Benj come with him when he hunted for strays,” he added proudly. “He said we did a good job, too. Said I had the makings of a real cowboy.”

“Oh, he did, did he?” Adam replied and Bronwen was just a little uneasy at the sharpness of his tone but A.C. seemed oblivious.

“Did you have a good time with William’s parents? Is his mother really a dragon?”

Adam scowled and started to snap at A.C., but bit his words off. It was Miranda’s fault; she shouldn’t have referred to her future mother-in-law that way. Having met Mrs. Gordon, he could understand her feeling that way, but it was still highly disrespectful. Bronwen was thinking the same thing and spoke up.

“A.C., it was very wrong of your sister to have written that about Mrs. Gordon. You mustn’t repeat it, especially not to William.” A.C. shrugged but she wasn’t sure she’d made him understand. “Think how you would feel if you heard someone call me a dragon.”

He frowned at that. “I wouldn’t like it.”

“And William won’t either. He would be justifiably angry if he knew Miranda had done so.”

“Right,” A.C. stated. Then he asked curiously, “What did you do while you were in Wilmington?”

“Nothing you would have enjoyed,” Adam answered, trying to rescue his hat from Huw. Rather than a Stetson, he’d started wearing a Dunkerley Slouch hat and Huw loved to play with it; unfortunately, the hat was getting pretty battered from his attentions. Just then Miranda and William approached. “Here, mate, you go with Me-ma and I’ll drive us home.” Bronwen smiled as she held out her arms and Huw allowed himself to be transferred without complaint.

Most of the conversation on the ride home centered around the wedding, which was only three days away. A.C. was growing bored with the talk of flowers and dresses, but his interest increased when they began to discuss the wedding cake.

“Could you and Beth make a tiered sponge cake with marzipan and white icing?” Miranda asked. “Mrs. Alden and Charlotte told me that’s the type of cake they’ve seen at all the weddings they’ve attended recently.”

“A tiered cake?” Bronwen repeated. “I suppose we could. How many tiers would you like?”

“Three,” Miranda said hesitantly.

“I suppose we can manage that,” Bronwen said with a smile. “We’ve never done one, but Beth and I like a challenge and I imagine Gwyneth will want to help.”

“How come you’re not having fruitcake like Beth did?” A.C. asked. “I like fruitcake better than sponge cake.”

“But I like sponge cake best,” Miranda replied with a smile.

“Besides, fruitcake has to age. We would have needed to make it at home and bring it with us,” his mother replied and A.C. began giggling at the idea of them traveling with Miranda’s wedding cake packed in a trunk.

As soon as Adam pulled the surrey into the yard, Bronwen turned around and said quietly, “After you say hello to Grandpa, would you take a little walk with me, Miranda?”

“All right,” Miranda said, her tone expressing her puzzlement.

As they walked toward the little bower not far from the house, Bronwen said with a quiet intensity, “I wanted an opportunity to talk with you in private about your mother-in-law.”

“Must we?” Miranda remarked flippantly.

“Yes, we must,” Bronwen replied very earnestly. “I know she is a difficult woman, but she is William’s mother and you must treat her with respect. Thanks to the way you wrote of her, A.C. just referred to her as ‘the dragon’, and it’s only sheer luck he didn’t do so in William’s hearing,” she added seeing the frisson of alarm in her daughter’s eyes. “Even if William is not close to his mother, it would not please him to hear her referred to in that fashion.”

“You’re right, Mama,” Miranda replied with downcast eyes and burning cheeks.

“Perhaps you and Mrs. Gordon will never like each other, but you can treat each other with respect for William’s sake.”

Miranda nodded and then said with just a slight grin, “It should be easier since we won’t live in the same state,” and her mother shook her head at such levity. With a sigh, Miranda added, “I know it’s a serious matter, Mama, and I will do my best to always treat Mrs. Gordon with respect.”

The next three days literally seemed to fly by. The men just tried to stay away from the house while the women cleaned, and Adam was put in charge of keeping Elen and Huw occupied. Even Buckshot kept out of the way. He was furious at being banned from his own kitchen while Bronwen, Beth and Gwyneth baked and then iced the tiered cake. The evening before the wedding, the immaculate house gleamed from the application of beeswax and the beautiful cake, painstakingly decorated by Beth with sugar roses, was carefully stored in the pantry. Gwyneth had taken her father’s old guitar and gone off to practice her solo while Bronwen, Annabelle and Beth had carefully pressed everyone’s wedding finery. Buckshot prepared beef stew for the evening meal, and they decided to eat on the porch.

William was eating with his newly arrived family in town, and although she missed him, Miranda was glad of the opportunity to be alone with her own family. This is the final supper I will eat as a Cartwright, she thought. By this time tomorrow, I will be Mrs. William Gordon. I haven’t had much experience at keeping house these past seven years. I hope I’ll be successful. William has hired a Mrs. Matthews to cook and a Nancy to be a maid of all work. I would have preferred to hire my own servants, but I know William is correct and we couldn’t wait and hire them after we’d set up house, especially since all the other faculty wives will be paying calls on me. I wish I were more like Beth. She never had to worry about her domestic skills; that always seemed to come naturally to her just as mathematics did to me.

Ben was watching Miranda as he ate. He didn’t have any favorites among his grandchildren, but his feelings about Miranda were special. She was the only one of his granddaughters to bear a marked resemblance to one of his lost loves. Looking at her was like having Liz back with him. After her wedding, it wouldn’t be the same, and yet, he wanted her to be happy with her William, as happy as he and Liz had been. God willing, she and William would have all those happy years together that he and Liz had been denied.

Adam, too, was thinking how his relationship with his daughter would be forever changed the next day. She would no longer be his little girl to love and cherish. He stole a glance at his father-in-law, engaged in lively conversation with his wife. I suppose it was the same for you, Tad. You and Bronwen had always been close, and then I came along and suddenly you were no longer the most important man in her life. But I know you were happy for us just as I’m happy for Miranda and William. He looked at his son, who was laughing with his young cousin, and then at back at his wife. I have a feeling, sweetheart, that you are going to find it just as difficult when A.C. falls in love.

As soon as Beth could see Elen and Huw were finished with their stew, she stood up and said, “C’mon, you two, it’s time for you to have a bath and then Mama will tuck you in.” She lifted Huw out of his highchair but Elen pouted and said, “No, I don’t wanna bath.”

“Elen,” Beth said warningly, and although still pouting, Elen jumped off her chair and took her mama’s hand, knowing that that same hand could warm her little bottom if she didn’t do as she was told.

“I want you to take a bath tonight as well, A.C.,” Bronwen added. “In fact, why don’t all the men bathe tonight and we can have our baths tomorrow morning?” Everyone agreed to that plan although A.C. grumbled about the idea of taking a bath any night other than Saturday.

“If I take one tonight, then I’m not takin’ one tomorrow night,” he announced.

“Fair enough,” Bronwen said. “I want you to wash your hair tonight; it should dry before you need to go to bed.” All the women had washed their hair earlier in the afternoon so it would be dry by that night.

After putting her children to bed, Beth came and sat on the porch with the others. Bronwen noticed her smile as she placed her hands protectively over her abdomen. “The baby?” she asked quietly and Beth nodded, a dreamy smile on her face.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt him or her move,” she said softly. “I’m glad your wedding is tomorrow, Miranda, because I’m anxious to get home to Dafydd.” The others all smiled at this.  "So is Elen.  Every night she asks when she'll see Tada again."  Beth's face clouded then as she added, "I'm afraid Huw has forgotten his tada."

"I don't think so," Dr. Davies said.  "But, even if he has, they’ll soon reestablish their bond. Don’t worry Beth fach."

‘You’re right, Tad-cu,” Beth said with a smile. She turned to her sister and said with a smile, “I am looking forward to meeting your in-laws. I hope they are enjoying Carson City.”

“Tell me again who Jacob is picking up tomorrow,” Joe said, “that is, besides William and his parents.”

“His aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Logan,” Miranda replied, “and his Best Man, Robert Lodge. Oh, and my friends Sylvia and Samantha.”

“You met Mr. Logan, Pa,” Adam said, “when we supplied lumber for that trestle.”

“Oh, yes,” Ben said, remembering how important that job had been to him—until his determination to get results at all costs resulted in the death of an old man. His guilt had caused him to veer from one extreme to another, but with some help from his old friend and rival, Barney Fuller, he’d been able to put things in perspective. “I look forward to seeing him again,” he added with a smile.

After A.C. took his bath and rejoined the group, Ben asked if they could sing. Adam got his guitar and they sang, in four part harmony, savoring the opportunity of all being together as an extended family, which they knew would never come again.

Early the next morning, Virginia McKaren arrived with roses from her garden that she’d made into a bouquet for Miranda.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. McKaren,” Miranda said, accepting the bouquet with a dimpled smile.

“Nonsense, I’m happy to help. I know you’ll be a beautiful bride,” Virginia replied. Just then Huw came toddling over, a big grin on his face.

“G’day” he said.

“Hello, sweetie,” Virginia replied, smiling at the little boy. “This must be your great-grandson,” she said to Ben, “because he surely has your eyes,” and Ben smiled.

“I Huw,” the little boy stated.

“Where’s your sister?” Virginia asked and Ben replied, “Elen is very shy.”

“I’ll have a chance to see her later,” Virginia said with an understanding nod. “Hello, Adam,” she said and then she exclaimed, “Don’t tell me this is A.C.!”

“That’s right,” Adam said proudly, putting his hand on A.C.’s shoulder.

“G’day, Mrs. McKaren,” A.C. said dimpling.

“I just can’t believe how much you’ve grown,” Virginia said, shaking her head. “Of course, it has been four years. Well, I can see you’re going to be a real heartbreaker, just like your dad.” A.C. looked puzzled and the others all smiled. Adam introduced Virginia to his in-laws and then she made her excuses, knowing the family would need to be getting dressed for the wedding.

While Bronwen and Mrs. Davies were bathing, Beth dressed Elen and Huw in their wedding finery and then asked her father and grandfathers to watch them.

“You look beautiful, precious,” Adam said as Elen pirouetted to show off her pretty salmon-pink silk frock. Beth had worked long hours on the dress with its yoke of tucked silk trimmed in cream muslin and delicate muslin ruffles at the wrists of the tight-fitting sleeves, not to mention the silk-covered buttons and tiny loops used to fasten it in the back. As a finishing touch, she had brushed her daughter’s thick golden-brown hair until it shone and then tied it back with a pink ribbon.

“And you look very fine, Huw,” Ben said. Beth had worked just as hard on Huw’s smocked frock of navy blue silk as she had on Elen’s dress, although at Dafydd’s request, she had refrained from adding lace or embroidery. She refused to cut Huw’s thick black hair until he was at least three, but the previous evening she had cut his bangs so they weren’t getting in his eyes.

A.C. and Benj came downstairs then, both looking very grownup in their black morning coats, black bow ties and white kid gloves. Bronwen, Sarah and Annabelle were next, and they watched the little ones so the men could get dressed. Soon everyone but the bride was dressed and Bronwen and Beth went upstairs to assist.

“You look lovely,” Beth said as she stepped back from pinning on her sister’s floor length veil. “This is such a beautiful veil.”

“It was Grandma’s,” Miranda replied with a sad smile. “Great-grandfather Stoddard arranged to have it sent to Grandpa after he died. When Grandpa knew William and I were going to be married here on the Ponderosa, he asked me if I’d like to wear Grandma’s wedding veil. I knew it would mean so much to him if I wore it.”

Beth smiled and nodded, for she understood why Grandpa had saved their grandmother’s wedding veil for Miranda’s wedding. “He’ll look at you in this veil and think of Grandma.”

“I promised him that I’d give it to my daughter for her wedding day. If I have a daughter,” she added, ever practical, causing Bronwen and Beth to grin.

Beth then asked, “Now, you’re wearing the blue silk garters I gave you?”

Miranda nodded. “That’s something old and something blue. Gwyneth bought me these silk stockings, so that’s something new, and Mam-gu gave me a silver sixpence for my shoe. All I need is something borrowed.”

“I have something borrowed,” Bronwen said softly. “Daddy gave me this locket,” and she handed the silver locket engraved with a spray of violets to her second born. “Open it up,” she added.

Miranda and Beth both felt their eyes fill with tears as they saw the lock of their little sister’s hair and her portrait smiling at them. “Oh Mama,” Miranda got out in a choked voice.

“Daddy and I wanted you to know Penny is with you, sharing your special day,” Bronwen said, her own voice unsteady as she fastened the locket around Miranda’s neck. “We also wanted to give you this.” She handed Miranda her father’s dog-eared copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets. “We pressed two blooms from Penny’s rosebush for you so you can always have something of her with you. The sonnets are yours as well since we know they are your favorites.”

With trembling fingers, Miranda opened the book and found the two dark crimson blooms marking her favorite sonnet, 116.

“Don’t cry, cariad, because Penny wouldn’t want that,” Bronwen said softly as she embraced her daughter, whose eyes were now overflowing with tears.

“No, she wouldn’t,” Miranda agreed with a shaky laugh, as she borrowed her mother’s proffered handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.

“The guests will be arriving so I need to go downstairs,” Bronwen said. “I’ll go ahead and send your daddy up.”

She met Adam on the stairs and thought how handsome he looked in his new tailcoat and crisply starched dress shirt. He stopped on the stairs so he could actually look her in the eye and then, putting his finger under her chin and tilting her face up, he dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

“You look pretty enough to be the bride,” he said softly, and indeed her simple gown of pale azure taffeta suited her very well.

She smiled back and said, “Miranda and Beth are waiting for you. Who is watching Elen and Huw?”

“Tad and Mam, with some help from Pa,” he replied with a grin. “I’m sure they won’t mind a reinforcement. Jacob hasn’t returned yet, but the McKarens are here as is Paul.”

Everyone was happily conversing and enjoying Elen and Huw when the surrey pulled into the yard. Joe and Ben went out followed by A.C. and Benj.

“Welcome to the Ponderosa,” Ben said, leaning on Joe’s arm, for he refused to use his cane today. “I’m Ben Cartwright.”

The men helped the women alight. Ben saw a rather stout woman with a sour expression and guessed this was William’s mother. The two young women must be Sylvia and Samantha and the other older woman was probably William’s aunt.

As soon as everyone was in the yard, William said, “Mother and Father, I’d like you to meet Miranda’s grandfather.”

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Cartwright,” the sour-faced woman stated stiffly while the stout gentleman, who had William’s large blue eyes and aquiline nose, smiled warmly as he extended his hand and said, “Yes, indeed. It’s an honor, sir, to meet one of this country’s pioneers.”

“I’d also like to present Miranda’s uncle, Joseph Cartwright, and his son, Benj. And last, but certainly not least, her brother, A.C.,” William said with a broad smile. They all shook hands and Mr. Gordon said genially, “Well, A.C., your sister told us you were tall for your age and I can see she certainly didn’t exaggerate.”

“Thank you, sir,” A.C. replied dimpling, which made all the women (except Mrs. Gordon) exchange smiles.

The rest of the introductions were made quickly and they moved inside where William introduced everyone else. Then they all took their seats while William and Robert stood in front of Reverend Newton and Gwyneth began to play Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring on Adam’s guitar.

As soon as she heard the music, Beth kissed her sister’s cheek and carefully arranged her veil. “I’ll see you both in a few minutes,” she said with a smile before descending the stairs.

“I’m sure you and William will be very happy, Angel,” Adam said earnestly, “but always remember you have family here and in Queensland that loves you. Don’t be too proud to ask us for help if you ever need it.”

“I won’t, Daddy,” she said softly, then added, “I’m ready,” so he offered her his arm and led her carefully down the stairs to stand beside William.

Gwyneth’s incredible voice began to fill the room with Bach’s haunting melody and then Adam stood by his second born listening to the words the minister was intoning:

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church ¼”

He saw the joy on William’s face as he looked at Miranda; her expression was hidden behind her veil but he felt her trembling slightly as she gazed at her beloved.

“¼ and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained. ¼”

He remembered the pride he’d felt when five-year-old Miranda with her big hazel eyes and black curls would sit on his lap and count to 100. He could see her joy when she learned first how to add and subtract and then to multiply and divide. He remembered her delight when she was able to prove a theorem, and when she learned how to solve quadratic equations.

He looked at Beth, standing at her sister’s side, her face radiant with the joy she felt at her sister’s happiness. He smiled a little as he remembered some of the arguments between his two oldest girls. Beth had no use for lessons and couldn’t understand how anyone could actually enjoy them, and Miranda couldn’t believe that her sister really hated something she loved so much. It had always reminded him of when he and Hoss were growing up.

He came back to the present when he heard Reverend Newton address William.

“William, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

William’s voice was low but sure as he answered, “I will.”

Then Reverend Newton turned to Miranda.

“Miranda, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

Adam smiled inwardly at the absence of the vow to obey as Miranda replied firmly, “I will.”

Then Reverend Newton looked at him and said, “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

Adam said resolutely, “I do.”

He took his seat by Bronwen, enfolding her small, delicate hand in his, and thought I really gave you away seven years ago, Angel, when your mama and I decided to let you attend the Girls Latin School in Boston. I have missed you so much, missed seeing you grow from a girl to a young woman, and now I will miss seeing you as a wife and mother. Still, I can’t truly regret our decision. In William, you have found your intellectual equal, a man who loves you and values your intelligence. You will be happier living with him in Hanover than you would be living with us in Cloncurry, and your happiness is more important than being able to see you as often as I’d like.

He glanced down at Bronwen and saw her face was wet with tears so he let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders comfortingly. He could feel tears on his own cheeks as he heard Miranda say:

“I, Miranda, take thee, William, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

Chapter 3

Reverend Newton said with a beaming smile, “William, you may kiss your bride,” and William took Miranda in his arms. When they broke apart, and faced their families and guests, Ben was almost overwhelmed by his emotions. Oh Elizabeth, my love, she is the image of you on our wedding day. I see the same joy and hope on her face and William’s that we felt. I pray that their love will not be cut tragically short as ours was.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gwyneth playing Greensleeves on Adam’s guitar, which was the signal for first the bridal couple, and then the wedding guests to move to the yard.

While the wedding had been taking place, Jacob had been directing some of the other hands as they strung Chinese lanterns for decorations and set up one table for the wedding cake and punch and another for the side dishes accompanying the beef. Meanwhile, Buckshot was supervising barbecuing the steer. When Miranda and William emerged from the ranch house, the hands set up a cheer and lined up for the honor of kissing the bride.

“Now, boys,” Ben said with a blinding smile, “grandfathers have the first claim. Right, Llywelyn?”

“Too right!” Dr. Davies stated emphatically as he unobtrusively guided Ben to the front of the line.

“Followed by fathers,” Adam added and was seconded by Mr. Gordon as they took their places behind the older men.

“Then brothers, uncles, and cousins” Joe interjected, putting his arms about A.C.’s and Benj’s shoulders as they moved next in line.

Mrs. Gordon stood off to one side and watched the ranch hands, dressed in clean shirts with their hair slicked down, take turns kissing her new daughter-in-law while her son stood by grinning and shaking their hands. “How barbaric,” she said with a sniff. Her in-laws were standing close by and Mr. Logan said coldly, “Amaryllis, you are without a doubt the biggest snob I’ve ever met.” He turned to his wife and, offering his arm said, “Let’s join the others, shall we?” They left Mrs. Gordon standing alone, looking down her nose at the other guests.

Ben was too good a host to see a guest being ignored so he walked slowly over to Mrs. Gordon. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how happy we all are to have your son as a member of our family, Mrs. Gordon. He is a fine young man.”

“Of course we’re happy to have your granddaughter as a member of ours,” she replied stiffly, impressed in spite of herself by the elderly man’s courtesy. Just then Beth approached with Elen and Huw.

“Mrs. Gordon, allow me to present Miranda’s older sister, Elizabeth. You already met Elen and Huw before the ceremony,” Ben said.

Beth looked at Miranda’s mother-in-law and, seeing the cold, sour expression on her face, decided Miranda had been accurate in her description. However, she felt sorry for the older woman.

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Gordon,” she said with a warm smile and even Mrs. Gordon was not immune to her beauty and found herself returning the smile. I could have understood it better if William had married this Cartwright daughter. What a pity the little girl didn’t inherit her mother’s looks. The little boy is appealing though.

“I’m hungry, Mama,” Elen whined and Beth said patiently, “It’s not time to eat yet, Elen. Would you like to look at one of your picture books?” Elen nodded so Beth said, “Would you excuse me, Mrs. Gordon?” and she left with her two little ones.

Annabelle strolled over then so Ben excused himself and went to greet the newest arrivals. “You are Miranda’s aunt?” Mrs. Gordon asked and Annabelle nodded.

“My family is from Boston; I understand yours is from Philadelphia?” she asked politely.

“Yes.” Mrs. Gordon paused for a moment and then asked in a disdainful tone, “You left Boston to come live here?”

“That’s correct,” Annabelle replied in a frosty tone. Fortunately, Sarah came running over then.

“Mama, are you going to try to catch Miranda’s bouquet?” she asked excitedly. Then she noticed Mrs. Gordon and added hastily, “Excuse me, Mrs. Gordon.”

“Only unmarried young ladies try and catch the bouquet,” Annabelle answered her daughter with a smile.

“Can—I mean may—I try?” Sarah begged.

“I suppose,” her mother replied. Then she turned to Mrs. Gordon. “If you’ll excuse me, Mrs. Gordon. Come, Sarah.”

Standing by herself, Mrs. Gordon saw with a frown that her husband was ignoring her to flirt with Mrs. Cartwright, so she forced herself to join the others.

“Ah, Mrs. Gordon,” Bronwen said with a smile, happy to find a polite way of ending her tête-à-tête with Miranda’s father-in-law. “Let me introduce you and Mr. Gordon to some of the new arrivals,” and she moved toward the Fuller family, exchanging a brief wink with Adam, who was chatting with Sylvia and Samantha.

Ben had been watching and when he saw all the guests had arrived, he signaled unobtrusively to Buckshot. A few minutes later, the cook emerged from the house with some buckets containing chilled bottles of champagne and trays of glasses.

The guests gathered round while the Cartwrights poured the champagne. When everyone had a glass, Adam raised his and said, “Friends, Bronwen and I want to welcome you all and thank you for coming to help us celebrate the wedding of our daughter, Miranda, and Dr. William Gordon.”

“I will never forget the day Miranda was born. Her mother had promised that she’d give me a birthday to remember, and she certainly did. Instead of attending a fancy dinner party, I spent my thirty-ninth birthday waiting anxiously for our second child to be born. You were the best birthday gift I ever received, Angel,” and he smiled lovingly at her. “Ever since Miranda was a tiny girl, she’s had a love of learning. Her grandparents,” and he nodded at Dr. and Mrs. Davies, “would buy picture books for her older sister, but it was Miranda who looked at the books until they were dog-eared.”

He shared a smile with Bronwen and then continued. “When she was sixteen, she asked her mother and me if she could attend the Girls Latin School in Boston, the city of my birth. It was a very difficult decision for us, knowing if we agreed that we wouldn’t see her again for two or three years. But we love her and want the best for her, so with a degree of trepidation, we said yes.”

“It was while she was living in Boston that she met the young man who would become her true-love. It was hard for me, reading in her letters about this young man who was courting her, afraid he might not be the sort of young man I would approve of, but then I reminded myself that Miranda has always been level-headed—a girl who would follow her head rather than her heart. From what I’ve seen these past few weeks, her head and her heart are in complete agreement that William is the man for her. Now that I’ve finally a chance to meet him, I have to say that she has made the right choice.”

He lifted his glass higher then, saying, “"So, ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, let us raise our glasses and join together in wishing Miranda and William every happiness, and may God bless them.”

After Adam’s toast, William held up his glass. “Mr. Cartwright, I give you my heartfelt thanks for the wondrous gift you’ve bestowed on me, my dearest love, Miranda. Friends, for I hope I may call you all that, I thank you for your good wishes.” He turned to gaze into Miranda’s eyes then saying, “Most of all, my dearest, I thank you for the gift of yourself. You are indeed my better half without which my life would be incomplete.”

He smiled then at Beth and Gwyneth. “And I mustn’t forget my new sisters. Not many men are as lucky as I am to gain two such lovely and talented sisters. Gwyneth, I didn’t believe Miranda when she told me you had the better voice, but dearest,” he said, smiling at his radiant bride, “I stand corrected. Gwyneth has the voice of an angel.” He turned to smile at Beth then. “My bride also told me that her sister, Beth, was more beautiful, but here I beg to differ. Lovely as you are, Beth, Miranda is the fairer.” Beth smiled warmly at her brother-in-law then.

“Ladies and gentlemen, will you join me in drinking a toast to Beth and Gwyneth.”

Everyone drank a toast to the bride’s sisters and then William’s best man, Robert Lodge, raised his glass. “Ladies and gentlemen, I first met William here when we were freshman at Harvard. When I opened the door to my room in the dormitory, I discovered this skinny, bespectacled fellow. I soon learned my new roommate had actually come to college to study. What a shock!” Most of the ranch hands laughed heartily at this. “I did my best to show him the error of his ways, but with no success.” The guests laughed while William shook his head. Robert continued with a grin. “Not that William spent all his time at Harvard with his nose in a book. No, he was a member of the Harvard crew and the baseball team.”

The guests looked puzzled at Robert’s mention of the Harvard crew, but smiled approvingly on learning William had played baseball in college.

“I was there when William and Miranda met for the first time, and it was clear to me right from the start that they had one thing in common: They were both bookworms. I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that they had decided to marry, and I’m sure they’ll be very happy together.”

“Now, I have some telegrams from family and friends who were unable to be here, and I’d like to share them.” He read telegrams from the Aldens, Rhys and Matilda, and from William’s other uncles and aunts. He concluded by lifting his glass high and saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in toasting the parents of the bride and groom.”

A final toast, unexpected but deeply felt, was offered by the patriarch of the Cartwright family. Ben rose slowly from his chair and a hush fell over the family and guests in deference to this much respected man. Clearing his throat as he had always done when faced with an emotional task, he supported himself on the table before him and spoke.

“I would like to offer not only my best wishes and congratulations to my dear granddaughter and her husband on their special day, but my heartfelt gratitude for choosing to hold their wedding ceremony here on the Ponderosa. It has meant the world to me to have all my family, including the Davies and now the Gordons, here to celebrate this most joyous occasion. Thank you both for making this a day I will always cherish. To the bride and groom.”

He raised his glass in a toast and as one voice, the audience echoed his sentiments, “To the bride and groom.” Adam felt his own throat tighten as he brought the glass to his lips, and a single tear escaped from the corner of his eye as he knew in his heart that this visit would be the last time he would see his father in this lifetime.

When the toasts were finished, Buckshot began carving the steer while some hands brought out the sliced bread and side dishes. Beth took Huw into the kitchen to feed, promising him he could have a piece of Auntie Miranda’s and Uncle William’s cake to quiet his fussing. Elen sat by her grandma wearing a big towel as a bib, delighted to be able to eat with the grownups. Beth knew her children needed a nap but they were much too excited and she didn’t want to spoil the day by causing a scene with her two youngsters, so she decided she would just send them to bed early after the festivities were over.

“There you are, Princess,” Adam said with a smile when she reappeared with Huw, “we didn’t want to start the dancing without you.” He nodded to the fiddler Ben had hired. The man began to play and Adam whirled Miranda around the yard in a two-step waltz.

“You are a beautiful bride, Angel,” he said as they danced gracefully. “William is a lucky man,” and she blushed, just like her mother had all those many years before when he had held her in his arms for the first time as husband and wife.

When their dance ended, William approached and Adam said with a bittersweet smile. “She’s yours now, William.” He stepped back to stand with Bronwen, putting his arm around her shoulders as they watched their daughter glide about the yard in the arms of her husband.

“They dance so beautifully together,” Beth said softly, happy for her sister. How I wish Dafydd was here; I yearn to be in his arms, to love him and be one with him.

Bronwen found herself dancing a waltz with Mr. Gordon, who kept trying to hold her too close. Adam was dancing with Mrs. Gordon but keeping an eye on Bronwen and Mr. Gordon; however, he could only direct baleful glares at Mr. Gordon. With a grin, Joe, who’d been watching from the sidelines, cut in on Mr. Gordon.

“Thank you,” Bronwen said with a smile. “I don’t think Adam could have stood much more.”

“I know,” Joe grinned. “I couldn’t let my niece’s wedding be spoiled by a brawl between her father and her brand-new father-in-law.” He chuckled adding, “You certainly have made a conquest,” and she rolled her eyes in a dead-on imitation of her husband.

By the time the cake had been cut, the bouquet tossed (and caught by Gwyneth), the bride and groom escaped to the little cabin, and the last guest departed, Huw was rubbing his eyes to keep them open. The rest of the family collapsed in the great room, the men and boys all loosening their ties.

“It was a lovely wedding,” Mrs. Davies said. “I know they’ll be very happy, especially since they live some distance from William’s parents. I quite like him, but his parents ¼” She carefully kept her thoughts to herself, but everyone silently echoed her unspoken opinion.

“How come William’s dad was always hanging around Mama?” A.C. asked.

“I think he likes Aunt Bronwen,” Sarah said and the adults all exchanged apprehensive glances.

“I’m sure it’s Mrs. Gordon that Mr. Gordon really likes,” Bronwen said with a faint smile.

“But you’re prettier and lots nicer than she is,” Sarah commented and Adam added under his breath, “Amen to that.”

“Thank you very much for the compliment, Sarah,” Bronwen said, smiling at her niece. “But it really doesn’t matter because I only like your Uncle Adam.” He leaned over and kissed her then while the others smiled.

Ben then said, “If you all will excuse me, I think I’ll retire.”

“Yes, that sounds like an excellent suggestion,” Dr. Davies said and Mrs. Davies nodded her agreement.

“C’mon, sweeties, you and Mama are going to bed,” Beth said, “just like Great-grandpa, Hendaid and Hennain,” and the little ones reluctantly allowed themselves to be led off to bed.

“I don’t have to go to bed yet, do I?” Benj asked his parents.

“No,” Joe said. “Your uncle and I are going on the shivaree; would you like to come?”

“What’s a shivaree?” Benj asked, his curiosity piqued.

“It’s when you go serenade the bride and groom,” Adam answered. “Do you think it’s a good idea, Joe?”

“Aw, he’s thirteen, Adam. I think he can handle it. Besides, his being with us will have everyone on their best behavior.”

“You have a point there,” Adam agreed.

“I wanna come, too, Dad,” A.C. begged.

“No,” Adam said firmly. Seeing his son was about to argue he added, “And I don’t want to hear anymore about it, is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” A.C. said sullenly.

Sarah then asked, “May I come on the shivaree,” but Joe said, “Sorry, sugar, but a shivaree is only for men.” Seeing her disappointment, and hoping to distract her and his nephew from the subject, he suggested brightly, “Why don’t you and A.C. play a game of checkers?”

“All right,” she replied, her expression brightening. “You wanna play, A.C.?”

“Yeah, okay,” he replied, still sulking because his dad was treating him like a baby.

“When does the shivaree start?” Benj asked and his dad replied, “Oh, not until moonrise. Let’s go ahead and change out of these fancy duds.”

“Yes, I think you should change as well, Sarah,” Annabelle said. “I don’t want anything happening to that dress.”

“I’ll change, too,” A.C. added, jumping up and taking the stairs two at a time.

“That boy,” Bronwen said, shaking her head. “He looks so handsome in his morning coat. But he’s definitely his father’s son when it comes to dressing up,” and she directed a mock frown at Adam, who just grinned at her before heading upstairs to change.

“I think I’ll go read in my room,” Annabelle said and Bronwen added, “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

The others soon reassembled in the great room in more comfortable clothes and the two youngest set up the checkerboard. Adam said, “Gwyneth and I have an idea for something the rest of us could do to pass the time. Do you know how to play Hearts?” Benj and Joe shook their heads and Gwyneth spoke up then saying, “Dad and I could teach you. It’s lots of fun.”

“I’m game,” Joe said. “How about you, Pardner?” and Benj nodded.

They had time to play a couple of games (Adam and Benj defeated Joe and Gwyneth both times) before Adam and Joe heard signs of activity in the yard and said it was time to go.

After they left, Gwyneth decided to read. She picked up her copy of What Maisie Knew, which she’d slipped among her grandpa’s books, and curled up in the blue velvet chair. Once he saw her open the book, A.C. stretched and said, “I’m too tired to finish this game. Think I’m going to bed.” Then he winked at Sarah and gestured toward the stairs. She looked surprised for a minute and then nodded.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to turn in, too,” she announced. Gwyneth was already so absorbed in her book that she didn’t pay any attention except to say absently, “Goodnight.”

When they reached the top of the stairs, A.C. motioned for Sarah to follow him into his room. “You wanna come with me to the shivaree?” he whispered once the door was safely shut.

“But our dads said we weren’t to go,” Sarah protested, keeping her voice low.

“They don’t have to know,” he whispered back. “We know they’re goin’ to the cabin and we can ride far enough behind they won’t know we’re there. Well, you wanna come or not?”

Sarah hesitated for a moment but then she nodded and said, “Okay, but Gwyneth’ll see us if we go outside, and she’ll stop us.”

“Not if we climb out of my window. Look, there’s a branch that’s real close. All we hafta do is slide a little bit on the roof to get to it. Then it’ll be easy to climb down,” and Sarah nodded hesitantly. He threw up the sash and climbed out, trying to scrabble as quietly as he could to the branch. Sarah felt like she was going to be sick when she climbed out the window and saw how far below her the ground was. She stood frozen, her hands clutching the window for dear life.

“C’mon!” A.C. hissed but she shook her head.

“I’m too scared.”

“Don’t look down. Look at me. Here, all you hafta do is take my hand. You can do it.” He swung off the branch and stood on the roof, clutching the branch with one arm while he extended the other to his cousin.

She fixed her eyes on him and slowly let go of the window and began to inch toward his outstretched arm. As soon as she was close enough, he clasped her arm and pulled her closer until she could grab the branch. She swung onto the branch and he was right behind her. They climbed down the tree easily and then Sarah asked, “Can you ride bareback? It’d be quicker than having to saddle our mounts.”

A.C. had never ridden bareback, but was sure that he could, so he nodded and they ran to the barn.

The horse and the pony were a bit startled when their riders vaulted on their backs without first saddling them, and it felt a bit strange to both children. However, they were both experienced riders and had no trouble keeping their balance. Luckily there was a full moon providing adequate light. They started off at a walk until they felt comfortable and then they rode at a canter until they could hear the other horses ahead of them, and slowed back to a walk. They noticed some of the riders were carrying torches and made sure they kept back to the shadows.

It was a longer ride to the cabin than they realized but finally its dim outline was visible. They moved as close to the group of men as they could while still remaining out of sight. “I wonder what happens now?” Sarah asked in a loud whisper.

“I don’t know. Dad says they serenade, but I’m not sure what that is,” A.C. whispered back. Just then they heard the sound of a guitar being strummed and then Adam’s voice could be heard singing the first verse of Billy Boy and the others all joining in.

“I guess serenading must be the same as singing,” Sarah whispered. “Oh, look! There’s William!”

They saw William standing in the doorway in his bare feet and robe. Sarah was surprised that he didn’t seem to be wearing a nightshirt under his robe.

“Thank you for the shivaree, gentlemen,” he said with a grin.

“Where’s your little wife, Billy Boy?” one of the hands called. “We want her to thank us.”

“I’m afraid my bride has retired and she asked me to thank you on her behalf,” William replied firmly, rather relieved to see Adam and Joe among the others.

“He means we’re interrupting his fun,” another hand said with a laugh.

“No, we’re enjoying the music and my wife wonders if you could sing Scarborough Fair,” William replied with a smile.

“I know it,” Adam answered. His son-in-law’s appearance was an uncomfortable reminder that his little girl was now a wife, but he was here to ensure the shivaree didn’t get out of hand. His rich baritone began singing the old ballad.

Scarborough Fair just happened to be one of Sarah’s favorite songs and without thinking she began to sing with Adam. All the hands were astonished to hear a soprano voice singing along with Adam, and Joe recognized the voice immediately. Signaling his intention to Adam, who continued singing, Joe turned his mount and rode quietly in the direction of his daughter’s voice. He saw the two children and with a fearsome scowl said, “Sarah Marie Cartwright, what are you doing here! And your dad will be having a ‘necessary’ talk with you, Adam Stoddard Cartwright, Jr.!” His eyes narrowing, he added in an ominously quiet tone, “Did the two of you ride here bareback?” Their eyes wide and frightened, they nodded mutely. “And was that your idea, young man?”

“N-no, it was mine, Daddy,” Sarah said in a small voice. “But we didn’t have any problems and it was f-fun.”

“It’s too late now but tomorrow morning after breakfast, you and I are going to have a very ‘necessary’ talk about what is proper fun for a young lady,” Joe said sternly. “Right now, I’m going to escort the two of you back to the house.”

As they rode back, Joe suddenly asked, “How did the two of you get out of the house without anyone stopping you?”

Sarah looked at her cousin. He licked his lips nervously and reached up to tug on an earlobe, unconsciously imitating his father. “Uh, we, uh, climbed out my window and then down the tree.”

Joe felt sick as the picture flashed through his mind of his daughter’s crumpled form lying at the base of the tree. “And whose idea was that?”

“M-mine, Uncle Joe,” the young boy stuttered and Joe reminded himself that no matter how tall the boy was, he was still only ten. Pa, I think I finally realize what I must have put you through.

“So breaking your arm and getting a concussion didn’t teach you about the dangers of climbing trees?” he asked, trying to keep his tone calm.

“I-I’m not supposed to climb them,” the boy said in a very small voice.

“That’s what I thought,” Joe said flatly. “You are going to have to tell your dad what you did, but that can wait until morning. No reason to disturb everyone else in the middle of the night. Besides, I think it will do you both good to think about what you did.”

When they got back to the ranch house, they found everyone had gone to bed, but Gwyneth had left a lamp burning low in the great room. “You two get on upstairs, and do it without waking anyone. A.C.’s dad and I will deal with you both tomorrow,” Joe said.

The children crept up the stairs soundlessly and Joe sat in Pa’s leather chair to wait for his older brother to return. He had dozed off so he was startled awake when he heard the sound of the door opening. Adam saw him and after Benj headed to bed, he asked Joe quietly, “A.C. was with Sarah, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah, he was. I sent them both to bed and said we’d punish them tomorrow.” Adam nodded his agreement and Joe continued. “I think I’d better prepare you even though I told A.C. he’d have to fess up to you what he’d done. They rode bareback; that was Sarah’s idea. They got out of the house without anyone knowing by climbing out A.C.’s window and then down the tree.” Joe paused and then added carefully, “That was A.C’s idea.”

He saw his older brother close his eyes for a moment while his lips thinned. “I thought I had taught him to keep his word. Obviously I failed.”

“Remember, he’s just a kid, Adam,” Joe said quietly.

“He’s old enough to know when he’s breaking a promise he made to his mother,” Adam replied. “I’m glad I have some time before punishing him. I’m so angry now that I wouldn’t trust myself.” He sighed and added in a mocking tone, “He should have been born first. I’m getting too old to deal with this.” Joe could only nod in sympathy.

The two children slept very poorly that night, dreading the upcoming ‘necessary’ discussions with their fathers. They woke up without being called, and they were the first ones downstairs. Beth and her little ones were next. “G’day, Unca A.C.!” Huw greeted his uncle enthusiastically. “G’day, Sarah!”

“My, you two are up early,” Beth commented, knowing her brother was usually the last one down.

“I’m hungry,” Elen announced and Beth said, “We’ll eat when the others come downstairs.”

Buckshot came in carrying a dish of scrambled eggs and a platter of biscuits. Elen ran over to him and said, “I wanna help.”

“All right, little lady,” the walleyed cook replied in his gravelly voice, smiling at the little girl.

“Mama will put the plates on the table and you can put on the silverware,” Beth said.

“I’ll put on the cups and saucers and the glasses,” Sarah said, walking toward the dining room, and after a brief hesitation, A.C. offered to put the napkins on the table.

Annabelle and Bronwen came down the stairs a few minutes later trailed by Gwyneth and the Davies. “Well, if this isn’t a sight to gladden any mother’s heart,” Bronwen said with a grin. “Don’t we have well-behaved children, Annabelle?”

“We surely do,” Annabelle replied with a little smile while Sarah and A.C. only exchanged tragic glances, which were not lost on Beth, but she kept her suspicions to herself.

By the time Adam, Joe and Benj came down the stairs, the others were seated around the table and Beth was putting Huw in his high chair.

“Good morning,” Ben said with a smile. “We were just debating whether we should start without you three. Since you’re here, would you say grace, Adam?”

Adam nodded and slipped into the chair between Bronwen and A.C., who swallowed convulsively at the sight of his dad’s stern face.

After Adam blessed the food and everyone began passing round the platters, Sarah noticed that Miranda and William were absent. When she mentioned it, the adults smiled.

“There won’t be any flapjacks left pretty soon. Shouldn’t someone should go to the cabin and get them?” she queried.

“They’ll survive missing breakfast, sugar, trust me,” Ben replied calmly. “I expect we’ll see them at dinner.”

“I think I’ll go fishing,” Gwyneth announced. (Since they’d had an exhausting day Saturday, and the drive to church was so long, they’d all agreed this Sunday they would stay home.) “Anyone like to come with me?” Benj immediately said yes. A.C. started to say he’d go when he remembered and closed his mouth.

“Don’t you want to come, A.C.?” Gwyneth asked, surprised that he hadn’t jumped at the opportunity.

“I’m afraid your brother will be occupied in other ways,” Adam said quietly, and recognizing the tone, Bronwen looked at her husband in surprise. “As soon as we’ve finished breakfast, A.C. has a few things that he needs to tell us, sweetheart. Right, A.C.?”

A.C. nodded and then seeing his dad’s frown said, “Yes, sir.”

“And Sarah and I will be having a ‘necessary’ talk after she does some explaining to you,” Joe said to Annabelle.

A pall seemed to settle on the meal after that. The Davies and Ben didn’t know what had happened but it was clear A.C. and Sarah were in serious trouble judging by their fathers’ expressions. A.C.’s appetite vanished and he found himself pushing his food around his plate until he saw his dad’s frown and forced himself to eat, even though it made him feel sick. Sarah wasn’t faring any better and she couldn’t stop her tears from overflowing. It wasn’t so much the spanking, although she was dreading that; it was the knowledge that she’d disappointed her daddy that really hurt. Only Huw seemed oblivious to the atmosphere and ate with his usual messy glee.

Adam, Bronwen and A.C. finished first. After they excused themselves, Adam suggested they go to the barn. They were all quiet until they were inside and then Adam turned to his son. “Uncle Joe tells me you have some explaining to do, young man.”

A.C. stared at the ground, pulling on his earlobe as he began. “Sarah and I—“ but his dad interrupted.

“Do us the courtesy of looking at us when you speak,” he commanded in that ominously quiet tone and A.C. forced himself to look up, although he couldn’t meet his parents’ eyes.

“Sarah and I went to the shivaree,” he said in a voice so soft they had to strain to hear.

Adam waited and when A.C. said nothing more he commanded, “Your mother and I want to hear the details.”

A.C. took a deep breath, and looking somewhere over his father’s left shoulder, he said, “We sneaked out of the house and then we rode bareback to the cabin. It was Sarah’s idea to ride bareback,” he added, looking into his father’s eyes for the first time.

“How did you sneak out of the house?” Adam asked in an implacable tone.

The boy’s eyes shifted off to the side again as he said, “We climbed out my window and then down the tree.”

“A.C.!” Bronwen exclaimed, “you promised me that you wouldn’t climb any more trees.”

“I just forgot, Mama. Honest! I’m sorry. Dad, I’m really sorry,” and his large hazel eyes began to fill with tears at the hurt he saw in his mama’s eyes and the disappointment in his dad’s.

“You should be sorry,” Adam said grimly. “You willfully disobeyed me, you broke a promise you made to your mama, and you put not only your own life, but Sarah’s at risk. We are going to have a necessary talk, but that is not enough punishment for this. You are confined to the house and the yard for the remainder of our visit and you will chop firewood for Buckshot, clean and whitewash the henhouse, and do any other chores he has for you.”

“Adam,” Bronwen started to protest, but at the look he gave her, she closed her mouth. She couldn’t really argue that the punishment was too strict. That A.C. would break a promise he had made to her and his dad made her both sad and angry.

A.C. looked at her beseechingly. “Mama ¼”

She shook her head. “I am extremely disappointed in you, A.C. bach.” She turned then saying, “I’ll see you inside, cariad.”

Joe, Annabelle and Sarah went upstairs to her room. As soon as Joe closed the door, he turned to his daughter and said, “All right, Sarah Marie, I want you to tell your mother why you are being punished.”

Sarah’s greenish hazel eyes pooled with tears as she said, “I disobeyed Daddy and went to hear the shivaree with A.C. We climbed out his window and down the tree so Gwyneth wouldn’t see us and then we rode bareback to the cabin.” She stopped and said in a shaky voice, “I’m sorry. I know it was wrong, and I know I’m older than A.C. and I should have stopped him instead of going with him.”

“I’m glad to hear that you realize that,” Joe said in a stern voice.

Annabelle, who had been shocked at her daughter’s admission, now spoke up. “Before Sarah receives her punishment, I need to speak with you in our room.”

Joe frowned a little but nodded curtly. As soon as they reached their room, Annabelle said, “Joe, I don’t think you should spank Sarah. She’s nearly twelve years old and I think that’s too old for corporal punishment. I would prefer we confine her to her room for the rest of the day and then to the ranch house for the remainder of our stay.”

“Remainder of your stay,” Joe repeated, feeling his heart constrict.

“I do love you, Joe,” she said softly, “and I know you can’t leave Pa, but I want our children educated in Boston with all its cultural advantages, not here.”

“The greatest advantage we can give our children is for them to grow up in a family where they are loved. That’s what’s important. Not what schools they go to!” he replied. “And it’s not just the children—I love you, Annabelle, and I don’t want to be separated. I need you,” and he took her in his arms and kissed her hungrily.

At first, she melted into his embrace, but then she pushed away. “You can visit Boston and we can be together then, but I just can’t live here. I can’t!” She saw the pain in his eyes and said, “I tried—I tried for eleven years—but I was miserable. In Boston I have friends. It’s true that some have turned their backs on me because I live apart from you, but not my true friends. I am a fish out of water here. You know I am.”

His shoulders slumped in defeat, he asked, “When are you leaving?”

“The same day as the others. I thought it would be easier on Sarah and Benj that way.” She reached for his hand, but he jerked it away. “Please, Joe. Please try to understand.”

“I only understand how much you’re hurting our family, and Pa. But I know I can’t stop you. Just, please, don’t say anything until the day before you leave. Don’t spoil this special time.”

“I won’t,” she agreed.

When Gwyneth and Benj returned, with a fine string of trout, they found Beth and Bronwen playing catch with Elen in the yard, Ben and Dr. Davies playing chess on the porch and Adam giving Huw a piggyback ride. They all saw William and Miranda riding up from the direction of the cabin.

“You missed breakfast!” Benj shouted.

“No, we didn’t,” Miranda replied as they drew closer. “Sylvia and Samantha both told me if we wanted to have good luck, then I needed to cook our first meal. They were so insistent that I fixed our breakfast.”

Seeing his father-in-law’s raised eyebrow, William added. “It was only toast. It wasn’t burnt enough to be inedible.” And he grinned from ear to ear.

“William!”

“Well, dearest, you did say you were a terrible cook; I am just being a good husband and agreeing” he replied, putting his arm about her waist and giving her a squeeze.

“It’s the last time you’ll have to eat a meal I prepared,” she replied with a smile while her older sister snickered.

“C’mon, let’s get these trout cleaned. I’m hungry,” Benj said. Seeing the way his cousin and her husband gazed into each other’s eyes made him uncomfortable. When he and Gwyneth went around back, they found A.C., spattered with whitewash, just finishing the henhouse.

“I guess this is part of your punishment, huh?” Benj asked. When his cousin nodded, he added, “At least it’s better than a tanning.”

“I got that, too,” A.C. said, rubbing his posterior and smearing it with whitewash.

“Gosh, Uncle Adam must be really strict,” Benj commented in surprise.

“He is,” Gwyneth responded, adding, “but he’s fair. Right, little brother?”

After a moment, A.C. nodded reluctantly. Just then Bronwen walked over.

“A.C., you’d better hurry and finish because you’re not sitting down at the table until you’ve had a bath and washed your hair.”

“I just had a bath the day before yesterday,” he whined.

“I don’t care; you are filthy and you have to have another. I hope I can get that whitewash out of your clothes. I’ll go put some clean ones in the bathhouse and heat some water for your bath.”

It was an odd dinner. Sarah was confined to her room and A.C., usually a chatterbox, was very subdued. William and Miranda were so wrapped up in each other they seemed barely aware of the others gathered round the table. Their happiness made Joe and Annabelle painfully aware of their estrangement but reminded the happily married couples of their honeymoons. Ben was lost in memories of his Liz while Beth was missing Dafydd and Gwyneth was dreaming of the time when she and Mark would be husband and wife. Benj and Elen concentrated on their dinner while Huw chewed on the tiny, tender pieces of trout his mama gave him and smeared his mashed potatoes over his face and in his hair before she could stop him.

After dinner, Ben and the Davies declared their intention to take a nap.

“A nap sounds like a wonderful idea,” Adam said, stretching. “I guess I’m getting too old for these late nights.”

“Huw, I’ll have to wash your hair before you take your nap, you naughty boy,” Beth scolded while her little darling grinned unrepentantly.

“I wanna take my nap wiv Pa-pa,” Elen declared and Huw added, “Me nap Pa-pa.”

“I guess we can all three fit,” Adam said, grinning at his grandchildren. “Care to make it four, Me-ma?” he asked Bronwen with a wink.

“No, I think that arrangement would be too crowded. I think I’ll take The Well-Beloved and read on the porch,” she replied with a smile, and Annabelle said she’d get her book and join her.

Adam then asked Buckshot, “I hope you have plenty of work for A.C.?”

“Yes, sir,” the cook replied in his gravelly voice. “He’s gonna wash the dishes, pots and pans, and then he’s gonna weed my vegetable garden. I figure that should take most of the afternoon.”

“Yeah, I think it should,” Adam replied, watching his son’s shoulders sag and his face fall at the mention of all that work.

“We’ll see you all at supper,” Miranda said, taking William’s hand as they exited.

“I’m glad they’re so happy, but it makes me miss Dafydd,” Beth said in an undertone to Gwyneth.

Gwyneth nodded. “And I miss Mark so much. I hope we won’t have to wait long after he graduates to marry.”

Beth smiled in understanding. “Could you watch Elen while I wash this little man’s hair?” and her sister nodded.

“How about I help you with Huw?” Adam suggested. “For a child who loves water, he hates bathing.”

“Thanks, Daddy. I could use the help,” and Beth accepted with a smile.

“How would you like to go for a ride, Pardner?” Joe asked and Benj agreed willingly.

When everyone woke up from their naps, Ben suggested they sit on the porch and sing. “You’re only going to be here for another day, and this is probably the last time we will all be together again.”

“Sure, Pa,” Adam said quietly, knowing the truth of his words. “I’ll get my guitar and Joe and Benj can join us when they get back. And I think A.C. has done enough work today.”

Annabelle added, “I’ll go tell Sarah that she may come join us.”

“Since today is Sunday, I suggest we sing hymns,” Mrs. Davies said and everyone agreed.

Joe heard their voices singing the old beloved hymns in four-part harmony as he and Benj rode up to the yard, and for a moment he was overcome with grief and sadness.

“Are you okay, Dad?” Benj asked worriedly, seeing the tears in his dad’s eyes.

“I’m fine, Pardner,” Joe replied, managing to keep his voice steady for his son’s sake. “I guess I was just feeling sad, remembering when your uncles, grandpa and I used to sing hymns together.”

“You really miss Uncle Hoss, don’t you?” the boy said slowly.

“Yeah, I do. And I miss Uncle Adam. Reading his letters just isn’t the same as having him here.”

“I kinda miss Sarah when I’m at school, and I miss you and Mama. But now I miss my friends.”

Joe hesitated and then said, “You won’t miss them much longer. You’ll be heading back to Boston the day after tomorrow.”

“But I thought ¼” and the boy’s voice trailed off.

“So did I, but your mama wants you all to return to Boston,” Joe replied, trying to keep any bitterness from his tone.

‘Don’t you and Mama love each other?” the boy asked in an anguished tone.

“Yes, we do, but sometimes love just isn’t enough,” Joe said sadly.

The next morning after making love, William gently smoothed back Miranda’s curls and said softly, “I thought we’d spend today with your family.”

“Fair dinkum? I mean, really?” she asked with shining eyes.

“Of course. We have the rest of our lives to spend together, but I know your family won’t be able to visit often.” He grinned. “Now, I don’t think they’ll mind if we’re a little late to breakfast, hmm?” and she giggled before wrapping her arms around him.

They found the others were just beginning to pass around the food when they arrived and A.C. said cheekily, “You’re late. All the biscuits are gone.”

Buckshot said with a wink at the newlyweds, “I got another batch in the oven; be ready in just a few minutes.”

“Do we have any plans for today?” Miranda asked. “If not, I was hoping maybe we could have a picnic at the lake.”

“Maybe play horseshoes,” William suggested and Joe snickered. “I’ve been practicing, Uncle Joe,” he replied with a straight face and with a lift of an eyebrow, Adam said to his brother, “How about you and Benj against William and me?”

“You’re on, brother,” Joe said.

Adam suddenly noticed the woebegone expression on his son’s face and realized the problem. “Jackeroo, you may come on the picnic, but I want you to help Beth watch Elen and Huw and play some games with them.”

“Sarah, you can do the same,” Joe said and the two youngsters nodded, happy grins on their faces, as their fathers’ pronouncements let them know that they had both been forgiven for their disobedience.

Adam and William soundly defeated Joe and Benj, to Joe’s utter amazement. “I guess you have been practicing,” he muttered, disbelief written all over his face.

“It turns out the head of my department loves to play horseshoes and so he was happy to help me improve my game,” William said smugly while Miranda gazed on proudly and Adam guffawed.

Meanwhile, A.C. quickly tired of rolling the ball to Huw but Elen wanted to play catch with Sarah and her mama, and he knew better than to complain. He was relieved when Beth and Gwyneth suggested playing some other games. He enjoyed playing London Bridge and shaking everyone else up. He even enjoyed playing ring-a-round-a-rosy, although he’d never admit it.

After the horseshoe game, Adam suggested a game of Needle’s Eye, and everyone but Ben and the Davies joined in, Adam and Joe running with Huw and Elen to ensure they broke through.

As the sun moved farther in the west, Adam said, “I think we should say our goodbyes now when we can be private.”

“Siân and I will go for a walk along the shore to give you more privacy,” Dr. Davies said and William offered to accompany them but Bronwen said, “No, please stay, William.”

“I’ll come with you,” Annabelle said quickly and everyone except Joe and Benj exchanged glances.

Beth said in a shaky voice, “I doubt if the children and I will ever be able to travel here again, but I’m so glad I got to see all of you, and to meet you, William.” She hugged Ben and kissed his cheek and then turned to Miranda. The hugged each other tightly and made no effort to check their tears. Next she turned to William and Joe and hugged them quickly. “It was wonderful seeing you again, Sarah and Benj.” Sarah threw her arms about her cousin, hugging her tightly, and then Beth smiled and asked Benj, “Do I get a hug?” He stiffened at first, but then he hugged her back. Elen and Huw had stood by with big eyes and now Beth said, “We’re going to leave for home tomorrow, so can you give everyone a goodbye kiss?” Elen was a little shy but Huw was enthusiastic in his kisses. Beth took them to Ben last.

“Great-grandpa is really going to miss you,” Ben said as he cupped their smooth, soft cheeks in his gnarled old hands.

“I miss you,” Elen said and two fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she kissed his weathered one.

“Bye-bye, Geatganpa,” Huw said smacking Ben’s cheek loudly and Ben smiled at his beautiful, innocent countenance.

“I’m going to miss you so much, Grandpa,” Gwyneth said softly before she hugged him.

“I hope you and your Mark will be very happy. You make sure your daddy sends me a picture of the two of you on your wedding day,” Ben said unsteadily, and Gwyneth nodded, too moved to speak. Miranda held out her arms and the two sisters, so opposite in height, hugged fiercely.

“You take good care of my sister,” Gwyneth said to William with a wobbly smile, and he answered solemnly, “I will. You make sure Miranda and I also get a photograph of you and Mark on your wedding day.” They hugged before Gwyneth said her goodbyes to her uncle and cousins.

“You’re not too big to give your grandpa a hug, are you, A.C.?” Ben said with a smile and A.C. shook his head before hugging Ben, and he didn’t even squirm when Ben kissed his cheek although normally he only tolerated kisses from his mama. “I love you, Grandpa,” he whispered. “I love you too, child” Ben answered, unashamed at the tears that fell from his eyes.

“I want a hug, too,” Miranda said to her not-so-little brother, so he hugged her and blushed when she kissed his cheek. William held out his hand and clasped A.C.’s arm.

“You write your sister and me, all right?” and the boy nodded.

Joe said with a grin, “I know your cousins don’t want a hug, but I do,” and he held out his arms.

After they hugged, A.C. said to his cousins, “I’m glad I got to see you again, and I’m sorry I got us in trouble, Sarah.”

“That’s okay. I should have stopped you instead of going with you,” she replied with a faint grin.

“You can write to me at my school,” Benj said. “I’ll give you the address when we get back to the ranch,” and A.C. nodded.

Beth had already taken her children to join the Davies and now Gwyneth and A.C. started after them while Bronwen turned to Sarah and Benj.

“I’m sorry we aren’t able to spend more time together, but I’m happy we had this brief visit. I’d like it very much if you wrote to me and your uncle.” She smiled at Benj and then hugged Sarah before turning to her brother-in-law. “Joe, I’ll miss you so much.” She hugged him tightly as she whispered, “I hope that things will work out for you.”

“My brother is a very lucky man,” Joe said softly. “If he ever needs to be reminded of that, you just let me know,” and he kissed her cheek.

“Oh Pa,” Bronwen said as Ben held out his arms to her, and she couldn’t stop the tears, knowing she would probably never see her father-in-law again.

“Don’t cry, dear,” he said gently after kissing her cheek. “I couldn’t love you more if you were my own daughter, and I can’t thank you enough for the happiness you’ve given my son.”

She hugged Ben one more time before turning to her second born and her new son-in-law. “It’s so hard to leave you, Miranda fach. It helps knowing that you and William have found each other, but only a little.”

“I’ll write often, Mama. I promise,” Miranda said, her voice unsteady and her eyes filling with tears. They shared a fierce embrace, reluctant to end it, but Bronwen forced herself to turn to her son-in-law. “I wish we could have spent more time together, William, but I know you’ll make my little girl happy.”

“I’ll do my best,” he hesitated and added, “Mama.” She smiled and hugged him before following the others to the lakeshore.

Adam turned to his brother’s children, saying with a smile, “Your aunt spoke for both of us when she said we wish we could have spent more time with you, and we would like to hear from you.”

“I’ll write, I promise, Uncle Adam,” Sarah said before throwing her arms around her tall uncle. He kissed her cheek before holding out his hand to Benj, who said, “I’ll write and I’d like to hear from you.”

They started to go after the others but Joe said, “Don’t go. I have something I need to say.” Sarah looked puzzled while Benj nodded his understanding. Adam and Ben exchanged worried glances. “There’s no easy way to say this. Tomorrow you both are returning to Boston with your mother.”

“I thought we were going to live here with you and Grandpa,” Sarah said, tears trickling down her cheeks. She ran to him and hugged him tightly.

“You’ll still spend your summers here and I’ll try and visit in October,” Joe said softly as he stroked his little girl’s curls.

“I’ll miss you, Grandpa,” Benj said, and he was old enough to understand that his grandpa might not be there next summer when he visited, so he hugged him—something he hadn’t done since he was A.C.’s age. Sarah ran over and hugged Ben and he held both the children close. He had to struggle not to break down knowing that it might be the last time he saw any of his grandchildren.

Sarah scrubbed her cheeks with the backs of her hands and then she and Benj ran to join the others along the lakeshore.

Adam turned to his brother and said quietly, “Joe, I’m so sorry.”

“I know you are, Adam, but I’d rather not talk about it,” Joe replied, struggling to keep his emotions under control. He paused then added, “You’re a very lucky man.”

“Yes, I am,” Adam replied softly. “If there’s anything I can do ¼” Joe nodded afraid to speak, but he embraced his brother before heading after his children.

Adam turned to his daughter and new son-in-law, who’d stood by shocked and saddened by Joe’s announcement. “I can only echo your mother and say how hard it is to leave you, Angel, even knowing that you now belong to William.” He took her in his arms and felt his eyes fill with tears, knowing it would be years before he would see his precious daughter again. As he kissed her cheek, he could taste the saltiness of her tears.

When they broke apart, he turned to his son-in-law, and they clasped arms. “I promise I’ll love her and care for her ¼” William paused and then asked, “May I call you Dad as A.C. does?”

“I’d like that very much, William,” Adam said with one of his rare, blinding smiles.

William turned to Miranda then and said, “Why don’t we join the others? I know you want to say goodbye to your tad-cu and mam-gu,” and he only stumbled a little over the Welsh words.

When they were out of sight, Adam turned to his pa, fresh tears forming in his eyes. The two men embraced and then Ben said in a voice that he couldn’t quite steady, “I’m holding you to your promise, son.”

“I’ll keep it, Pa, no matter how hard it is,” Adam answered in a strained voice. “I love you, and I know I haven’t said it enough.”

Ben smiled as he said gently, “You’ve shown your love in many ways over the years. You are a son any man would be proud of: intelligent, hardworking, and loyal. You are a man of integrity, and you have the strength of your convictions. That is something I have always admired about you.”

He reached up and caressed the silvery curls at his son’s nape. “You may be nearly sixty-two now, but when I look at you, I can still see that precious little boy with his curls and dimples who started off from Boston with me in that old farm wagon.”

Adam shook his head and smiled ruefully but then he added slowly, “I know what you mean. When I looked at Miranda dressed in her wedding gown and veil, I could see the tiny infant I held in my arms and the little girl with her big eyes and curls sitting on my lap and “reading” to me from one of her picture books. It was the same with Beth and it will be the same with Gwyneth.”

“Yes, you do understand,” Ben said. Clasping his son’s hand in his own, he said gently, “When the time comes that I go to join your mothers, your brother, and your precious Penny, you will still have your memories, and they will always be there when you need them.”

Chapter 4

“As much as I enjoyed seeing your native land and being with your family again, Adam bach,” Mrs. Davies stated as their ship approached Sydney’s harbor, “I have to say it will be so good to be home again.”

“See Tada?” Elen asked her mama with shining eyes.

“No, sweetie, not yet. But we’ll see Tada soon, I promise,” Beth replied, giving her little girl a reassuring hug and kiss.

“Llywelyn and Mark are planning on meeting the ship,” Dr. Davies commented and saw the way Gwyneth’s face lit up, just as her little niece’s had a moment before at the mention of the most important man in her life.

Gwyneth was the first to spot the two young men, and waved her arm to get their attention. They saw her and hurried toward the group. Their eyes nearly popped out when they saw Beth. In all the excitement of the graduation and wedding, no one had remembered to write them that Beth was enceinte.

“Congratulations,” Llywelyn said with an enormous grin. Then he smiled at Elen and Huw, who were clutching their mama’s hands tightly as the crowd milled around them. “So you’re going to have a baby brother or sister.”

“I wanna sister,” Elen asserted causing everyone to smile.

“Llywelyn will get some hackney cabs, and I’ll see to everyone’s luggage,” Mark then said. “You’re staying at the same hotel, aren’t you, Mr. Cartwright?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Thank you both,” Adam replied, directing a smile at the two young men.

Before he left to take care of the luggage, Mark said to Adam in an undertone, “Could I speak with you privately this afternoon, sir?” and Adam nodded. He had just given away a daughter in America, and now it appeared that he would soon be repeating the bittersweet ritual with his remaining girl in Queensland.

When Mark arrived at their suite at the hotel, Adam suggested they go for a walk so they could have some privacy. He knew what the young man wanted to discuss with him, but waited patiently for him to speak.

Mark liked Gwyneth’s father, but he had always found him just a little intimidating. He’d worked out exactly what he wanted to say ahead of time, but now that time had come to speak he was finding it very difficult.

Adam finally took pity on the young man and said, “You wanted to speak with me, Mark? I can guess that it’s about Gwyneth.”

“Yes, sir,” Mark replied. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and said as confidently as he could, “Mr. Cartwright, you know that Gwyneth and I are in love.” Adam nodded, with just a hint of a smile quirking his lips. “I realize that I don’t graduate for almost four months, and I know it will be several months after I begin working at Cartwright & Davies before I’ll be able to save up enough money to make a down payment on a house. However, sir, I would like your permission to ask Gwyneth to marry me now. I want her to return to Cloncurry wearing my ring so Douglas Campbell will know that she’s made her choice.”

Adam nodded slowly. “You have my permission, Mark. In fact, I think it is a good idea that Gwyneth returns home as your fiancée. I agree that you cannot marry until after you’ve graduated, but I don’t think it’s necessary for you to wait until you’ve saved enough to make a down payment on a house. Thanks to her time in Brisbane, Gwyneth already owns everything you’ll need to set up housekeeping and she knows how to make a budget and follow it. I’m sure the two of you can manage on your salary at the mine. I’ll be happy to loan you the money for a down payment on a house.”

“I thank you for your generosity, sir, but no. I don’t want to be in anyone’s debt,” Mark said firmly.

“I admire your opinion on that subject, but hear me out, Mark, because my motives are not selfless.” Mark’s eyebrows raised showing his disbelief, but Adam continued. “You and Gwyneth have been in love since before you went away to school four years ago, and I have no doubts about your feelings for each other. Now, it may be hard for you to believe, but I was once young and in love and I know that the flesh is weak. I think it would be best if you and Gwyneth marry as soon as possible after you return to Cloncurry. Please, accept my offer of a loan so you can be together.”

Adam watched the struggle on the young man’s face between his pride and his love for Gwyneth, and was relieved when the young man said. “All right, but I must pay you interest on the loan.”

“One percent,” Adam said, extending his hand.

“That’s too little,” the younger man objected and Adam laughed.

“Mark, I don’t want to make money off the loan. One percent is plenty.” He didn’t tell him that he intended to deposit the interest in Gwyneth’s trust fund.

“Do I have your permission to take Gwyneth to supper tonight?” Mark asked, a bit stiffly, and Adam dimpled.

“Of course. Just don’t keep her out too late. Beth is anxious to return to Dafydd, so we’re going to leave for Townsville on the first available train tomorrow,” and Mark nodded, now returning his future father-in-law’s smile.

Mark chose an unassuming restaurant on a quiet street not too far from the Cartwrights’ hotel. As they waited for their food to be served, he said, “So what do you think of Miranda’s professor?”

“I like him,” Gwyneth replied honestly. “He’s very nice. He’s not up himself, but his mother is another story.” Her lips quirked up in a smile as she added, “And William’s father kept flirting with Mama.”

“Fair dinkum?” Mark said, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

“Too right,” Gwyneth replied with a giggle. “Daddy didn’t like it at all.”

“I wouldn’t like it if anyone flirted with you,” Mark said very seriously and Gwyneth’s cheeks reddened.

“We got to see the house William and Miranda are buying in Hanover. I guess professors earn more than I realized because it’s as big as our house. It’s old though,” she added quickly. “I think William said it was built back in the 1860s.”

“I suppose you want a big house, too,” he said dejectedly.

“No,” she replied quickly. “I liked my flat and I think I’d prefer a small house. Although I guess it would depend on the size of my family.” Realizing what she’d said, her face flamed and he smiled and reached for her hand. Just then the waiter arrived with their food, so they concentrated on their meal. After he’d paid their check, Mark suggested they go for a walk.

“Gwyneth,” he began as they walked along the nearly deserted street holding hands, “I’ve loved you ever since that first time we danced together and your glorious hair came unpinned and tumbled down around you. The more time we spent together, the deeper my love grew.” He stopped then because they had come to a large gum tree slightly off to the side of the road. He drew her behind the tree where they were hidden from any passing eyes. “I spoke with your father this afternoon and he gave me permission to ask you to be mine.” He took her hand and dropped to one knee. “Gwyneth, my darling, will you marry me?”

“Oh yes, Mark,” she replied softly, so he stood and took her into his arms, and they shared a kiss that conveyed their feelings without words.

“I have something for you,” he said when they finally ended their kiss. “I know diamonds are your birthstone. I couldn’t afford a very big one—”

“I don’t care about that,” she interrupted and he slid the ring on her finger. “It’s beautiful,” she added turning her hand to admire the plain gold band and the tiny sparkling stone set in the center.

“Your dad offered to loan us the money for the down payment on a house. It will need to be a small one for now. We can always move to a bigger house after I’ve been able to save more money.”

“I have a trust fund—” she began, but he cut her off.

“I’m not living off my wife’s money,” he said harshly.

“All right,” she agreed. “Beth told me she and Dafydd agreed that they would use her trust fund for their children’s education.”

“I guess that would be all right,” he conceded. “Your dad mentioned that you’d already bought everything we’d need to set up housekeeping. Why don’t you find us a house? Take your dad along and ask his advice; I trust you. That way we can get married soon after I graduate.”

“I’d like that,” she said, snuggling close.

“Do you want a big wedding?” he asked with a hint of apprehension because he knew his family would be very uncomfortable at a big wedding, for they felt inferior to the Cartwrights and the Davies.

“No,” she said. “I’d prefer a small wedding like Miranda’s with only our families. And I don’t really want a big reception like Miranda and Beth had.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, for he didn’t want her cheated out of something she truly wanted.

“I’m sure,” she replied with a shy smile.

“I’m glad it’s the bride and her family that are in charge of the wedding,” he replied with real feeling. Then he took her in his arms for another long, passionate kiss. When they broke apart he said, “It’s a good thing you’re leaving for Cloncurry tomorrow. This is going to be the longest four months of my life.”

“And mine,” she whispered. He was barely able to resist the temptation to take her in his arms again, to unpin that glorious hair and bury his face in the softness of those curls.

“I think we’d better head back for the hotel,” he said, stepping away from her, but reaching for her hand.

They knocked on the door of her parents’ suite together and found everyone, including Dr. and Mrs. Davies, and they all smiled at the young couple.

“Mark and I are going to be married,” Gwyneth announced, her shy and reserved expression replaced by one of complete happiness. Even Mark’s normally saturnine countenance was lightened by his obvious joy.

After everyone had congratulated the couple and admired Gwyneth’s ring, Bronwen asked, “Have you thought about a date?”

“I was thinking of the first Saturday in February,” Gwyneth replied. “That won’t be very long after Llywelyn and Mark return to Cloncurry, but as Mark says, we’ll be making the arrangements so I don’t see why we should wait. We’ve already waited four years.”

Her parents nodded their understanding and then Beth spoke up. “We should buy the material for your wedding dress here, and take it back to Cloncurry with us. Will we have time to shop before we have to leave, Daddy?”

“I think you’ll have time as long as you are quick about it,” he replied. “What about you and Mama? Won’t you need new dresses?”

“Mark and I want a very small wedding—only our families,” Gwyneth said and Mark nodded his agreement as he put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “No one in Cloncurry has seen what Beth and Mama wore to Miranda’s wedding so I don’t see why they couldn’t wear those dresses,” Gwyneth suggested.

“That’s true,” Bronwen said and Beth added, “Maybe I’ll finally be able to wear the dress I made for Miranda’s wedding.”

“That’s settled then,” Adam said, with an inner sigh of relief. They’d spent a considerable sum on the trip to the States and back plus the expense of Miranda’s wedding, and although wealthy, he was, by nature, a frugal man.

“Gwyneth and I were hoping that you could help her select a house for us,” Mark said quietly to Adam, who nodded.

“Once we find a house, we’ll have to arrange to have your belongings transported from Brisbane. It would be so much easier if we were connected by rail,” Adam remarked with a frown, for Cloncurry’s lack of a rail connection was a sore point with him. He and Rhys had to make arrangements to have their ore transported by Afghan cameleers. Transporting the ore by rail would be so much more efficient and cost effective. Communication with their families in Sydney and the States would be quicker by rail than by Cobb and Co. mail coach.

“It seems like you’re gonna move away almost as soon as you get home,” A.C. remarked sadly.

“I won’t be that far away,” Gwyneth said gently. “You can visit Mark and me just like you visit Beth and Dafydd.”

“Yeah, I guess,” A.C. replied but everyone could sense his sadness so, to change the mood, Llywelyn said to his young cousin, “So I hear you and Uncle Adam are going to build a scull?”

“Too right!” the youngster replied, his attention successfully diverted, and he began to talk of his experience sculling on the Charles with his father and newest brother-in-law.

Before he headed back to his grandparents’ house, Llywelyn managed to take Adam aside. “Uncle Adam, I have a proposition to make you.” Adam said nothing but arched an eyebrow, so Llywelyn continued. “When I return to Cloncurry, I’m going to speak with Mr. Lawrence and then I intend to ask Emma to marry me. If I get the answer I expect, then I wanted to ask you to design a house for us. I’ve been saving for some time so I’m sure I can buy a small piece of land and I know my dad will help pay for the construction cost as a wedding present. It will have to be a small house, though.”

Adam smiled warmly at his nephew. ”I’d love to design a house for you and Emma. You can consider it our wedding gift.”

All too soon for Bronwen, it was time for the Cartwright family to head back to Cloncurry. “Oh, Mam,” she said tearfully as she kissed and hugged her mother good-bye. “It’s been so wonderful to be with you and Tada for these last months. I almost feel like I did when I married Adam and moved away from you both.”

Mrs. Davies made no effort to check her tears as she hugged her daughter, who would always be her baby even though she was now a grandmother. “Dw i’n dy garu di, Bronwen fach.”

Dr. Davies took his precious daughter’s face in his palms and kissed her gently on the forehead. “You are with us every day in our hearts, Bronwen fach, and we will always have our memories of this time together. Hwyl. ”

“Dw i’n dy garu di,” she said to each in turn, and, once seated on the train, she waved until her parents were out of sight. Adam put his arm about her shoulders, and the warmth of his embrace caused her barely contained tears to overflow.

As the train pulled into the Townsville station, Gwyneth suddenly announced excitedly, “There’s Dafydd!”

“It can’t be!” Beth exclaimed, standing on tiptoe and holding the overhead rail of the train car to get a better view. “Oh, it is!” she exclaimed in delight as she looked where her sister pointed.

Adam saw Dafydd then and scooped up his granddaughter, lifting her to see through the top of the window. “Look, precious! There’s your tada!”

Dafydd spotted Adam and Gwyneth’s tall figures and then his little daughter, and began waving to her.

“Tada!” she shrieked. “It’s my tada!”

Gwyneth picked up Huw and pointed. “Look, Huw. There’s your tada.” He smiled, but showed no sign of recognition.

Dafydd was waiting at the stairs as the train came to a halt. He tenderly helped Beth down to the ground and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Noticing that Adam was having trouble keeping Elen from jumping out of his arms, he reached up and plucked his little girl from her grandfather.

“Tada, Tada, I missed you!” she cried as she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him while Beth smiled happily. Adam turned to assist Bronwen and Gwyneth, who was carrying Huw, and then A.C. jumped down to the ground.

“How’s my boy?” Dafydd asked, but Huw clung to Gwyneth and looked at his father with big eyes. Dafydd was not unprepared for this reaction so he said calmly, “I have a couple of hackney cabs waiting to take us to the hotel. I thought Bethan should rest a day before we start back home.” He leaned over and kissed her properly, still holding Elen who refused to leave her father’s arms.

“Excellent idea,” Adam agreed and Bronwen nodded.

“My friend, Charles Edgerton, and his wife have invited all of us to dine with them at the rectory. They have a little boy about Huw’s age, so it will be much more comfortable than dining at a restaurant.” The others nodded their agreement, but just then Dafydd noticed the ring on Gwyneth’s left hand.

“You and Mark are engaged?” he asked with a warm smile.

Gwyneth blushed and nodded.

“Well, we can talk