Part Five – Forged in Fire
 

As Adam Cartwright walked through the small and rough settlement of Gladstone he wondered for a moment if he had made a mistake to get off here. This small town had been named after a past British Colonial Secretary and certainly didn’t look like anything to write home about. He knew that the settlement was here to mainly act as a loading wharf for the sugarcane grown within the area and the natural harbor served the ships well.

Adam stopped to wipe the sweat from his face.  How could it be this hot so early in the morning?  He squinted in the sun’s direction and he fancied he felt it burning him through his clothes.  What he wouldn’t give for the Sierra Nevada snows of the Christmas season right now.

Suddenly the sweet sound of voices singing together reached him.

“Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant….”

Adam slung his sea bag over his shoulder once more and moved towards the sound.

As he passed a sugarcane shed a happy sight greeted him.  In the inviting shade of a grove of wattle trees was a congregation enjoying an outdoor service. They were singing together joyously and Adam smiled at the minister’s gusto with the song.  He was a stout, middle-aged man of ruddy complexion and he was conducting the congregation with such energy and glee that Adam couldn’t help but smile.

There were about twenty people present including several children.  Adam had a great desire to join in their service but hesitated a moment thinking of his careworn sailor’s clothes. Most of the congregation were well dressed, the ladies with hats and gloves and the men in collars and ties.

While Adam stood watching they finished their song. One of the well-dressed women looked in his direction and gave a withering glance before turning her head away and fanning herself against the heat. Adam felt suddenly ashamed to be watching the congregation like a peeping Tom. He couldn’t blame them for not taking to sailors, he supposed the seamen raised merry hell when the ships were in port. As he turned to move off unobtrusively he heard a cry.

“Merry Christmas, stranger!”

Adam turned to see the minister calling to him jovially.

“Come join us, friend!”

Adam moved slowly over to join the congregation. He saw many friendly faces smiling at him but the well-dressed lady was not one of them as she gave him a sour look.  Putting down his sea bag and removing his hat he stood respectfully waiting for the minister to continue.

It wasn’t long until Adam’s strong, baritone voice was raised in singing Christmas carols with the rest of these outdoor worshippers.  In this foreign land so far from home Adam felt that there was no better way to celebrate Christmas than to raise his voice to the sky and enjoy the fellowship of shared faith. His thoughts then turned to his own family thousands of miles away and he prayed they were safe and well.  Adam was beginning to realize that when he was so far away from his home and family that there was a part of him that would never be truly whole. The further he traveled from the Ponderosa the louder it seemed to call to him.

Hoss Cartwright put his finger beneath his tie and collar and pulled at them momentarily. He hated wearing stiff collars and fancy ties, they just weren’t him. His companions for the evening Mrs Godfrey and her daughter both turned to him and smiled warmly. Hoss gave a lopsided grin back at them and tried to take an interest in the entertainment that was unfolding on stage.  Somehow this opera stuff just baffled him. Hoss preferred songs he could understand and some good jokes or a play with some hero rescuing a gal from a villain. This stuff in Italian bored him silly. No wonder Mr Godfrey had claimed that his gout was acting up and had to stay home.

Hoss took a sideways glance at his two lovely companions in the opera box.  They seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. It was at times like these that Hoss wished more than anything that Adam was here. This business trip to San Francisco to meet with the Godfreys about their timber contracts would have been right up Adam’s alley. His older brother seemed to enjoy these fancified singers all yelping in Italian and dying so slowly and loudly. For a moment Hoss wished that he could die slowly and quietly.  He couldn’t believe that people paid to see this stuff. He would have paid not to have to see it or hear it and his starched collar was suffocating him as he tugged at it again. Hoss gave up a silent prayer to be free of this torture before his eardrums burst or his neck was sawn clean through by this stiff collar.

Suddenly it seemed as though his prayers were answered. The curtain fell to thunderous applause and the theatre lamps were turned up high. Hoss looked skyward gratefully as his two lady companions rustled their silk gowns and petticoats in preparation for rising from their seats. Deliverance at last!

“Wasn’t that wonderful, Hoss?”

“Yes Ma’am, it sure was, Miss Godfrey, shame it ended so fast” replied Hoss happily.

The ladies laughed politely.

“Why, Hoss, the performance isn’t over.”

“Huh?” asked Hoss, too horrified to speak further.

“No, silly, it’s just intermission,” said Miss Godfrey.  “Now, why don’t we get a breath of air before the second half begins.”

“The second half?” asked Hoss with infinite sadness.  There was more?

Hoss feigned a smile as he escorted the two Godfrey women out of the box.  He would rather dip a whole herd of cattle single-handed than to listen to more of that catawalling but what could he do?

“I’m glad you Cartwrights love the arts so much,” spoke Mrs Godfrey  graciously. “Why, Adam practically begs me to get opera tickets when he comes to visit and I knew you would feel the same way being his brother.”

“Yes Ma’am,” said Hoss politely.

Hoss made a mental note that someday, somehow Adam would pay for this!

Emily Summers dismounted from her black, thoroughbred gelding and strode purposefully towards the workers’ camp. Emily was a young woman who was used to having things her own way. She was the only daughter of the rich sugarcane plantation owner Jacob Summers and had been educated in Europe at the finest ladies colleges and finishing schools. Her only brother Jake was three years older than her and even he knew not to go up against her when she had her mind set on something.

Jacob Summers had hoped that his headstrong daughter would marry and settle down but when she returned from Europe all she seemed interested in were the plantation and in exercising her expensive taste in English and Irish thoroughbreds. She wore English style jodhpurs when out working or riding and it was hard to catch her in anything even remotely feminine unless there was an important social occasion.

At 25 she was just as involved in running the plantation as her father and brother and just as knowledgeable about the sugarcane business.   The  local young men seemed to hold no interest for Emily even those of good families. She was dismissive of them and they had taken to calling her Icy-Britches along with most of the workers on the Summers’ plantation.  The insult was for her haughty manner as well as for her habit for wearing riding britches.

There was no getting past the fact that Emily was a strikingly beautiful woman. She had vivid, blue eyes, long blonde hair and a way of carrying her tall, slender frame that was eye-catching to any male under 99 years of age within sight.

Emily was there to check on the preparation for tonight’s burn. They were already late with the season burn due to the wet weather and Emily was anxious to ensure that things were on schedule. The sugarcane fields would burn brightly that night leaving only the cane standing for harvesting.

Suddenly Emily saw something that stopped her dead in her handmade, leather boots.  Toiling in the afternoon sun was a working gang cutting a firebreak before the burn. One of the workers caught her eye and at that moment Emily could not look away. What she saw was a tall, strong man stripped to the waist wielding a machete to cut through the stubborn lantana.  Emily had seen thousands of workers in her time and none had ever affected her like this. Her knees felt like water as she stared openly at the stranger. She had never seen him before, she would have remembered him for sure. His raven dark hair was shining and dark curls clung to his neck with perspiration.  The man’s chest was broad and covered with black hair made even darker with the sweat of his toil.  His shoulders and arms were clean and incredibly strong and shone  in the bright sun. Light work pants clung to his lean hips and she was amazed by both the power and the grace of his movements. The worker seemed to brim with life and virility.  He was all man and just so damn healthy!  Emily had never seen such an attractive male beast and her eyes lingered longingly on him perhaps a moment too long.

The laughter behind her brought her back to reality and Emily turned to see some of the other workers laughing at her open admiration of the unknown workman. She angrily strode onwards, her cheeks stinging with embarrassment. Emily had worked hard to get some respect from the workers and she didn’t intend to lose it now over some good-looking side of beef who probably had the brain of a baboon like most men.

Emily reached the foreman and he touched his cap in respect towards her.

“Well, Bill, you all ready for tonight?” she asked.

“Not quite, Miss, those lazy Kanakas have got us behind schedule again, but I’ll give them a few licks with the whip to keep them up to it.”

Emily looked out at the Kanakas toiling hard in the fields, she felt a twinge of pity. Her father had insisted on employing Kanak workers who were readily available to save money. The Kanakas had formerly been slaves and even with their freedom they weren’t treated much better. Emily’s European education had included the anti-slave philosophy of the time. She didn’t believe in cruelty to her horses and she certainly wouldn’t put up with it against people.

“Looks to me like they’re working as hard if not harder than your men, Bill,” she retorted.  “You know my feelings on whips. I had better not see any whipping or you’ll have me to answer to!”

“Yes, Miss,” smiled Bill as he touched his hat again with a greasy smile as she turned away.

“I’ll ride the firebreaks,” she said half to herself as she walked away.

Emily walked back to her horse hoping to get a glance of the worker she saw on the way there. She was disappointed to see the workers gone from that area.

‘What a fool I am,’ she thought, ‘I think I need to get out to some of those dances that Jake goes to if I’m fantasizing over some muscular field hand.’

Jumping athletically into the saddle without need of stirrup, Emily turned the head of her mount expertly. She heard a soft chuckle coming from beneath a shady tree.  It was him!

“What are you laughing at?” she called angrily.

Emily hated to be laughed at.

The man stepped out from the tree and Emily was disappointed to see that he had put on his work shirt.

“Nothing Ma’am, it’s just I’ve got a brother who mounts a horse like that,” his hazel eyes sparkled as he continued.  “Of course, he’s a bit of a showoff.”

Emily recognized his accent as American and she was just about to put him in his place when she burst out laughing.

“Well, then that’s something we have in common,” she smiled.

She liked the way we spoke, not only his beautiful baritone voice but his manner of speaking obviously pointed to refinement and education.  Maybe he wasn’t just an uneducated laborer after all.

“Miss Emily!  Miss Emily!” cried a teenage Kanak boy who was out of breath from running after her.

“What is it, Aru?” she answered worriedly.

The boy looked extremely distraught.

“Mister Bill, him killing Mio!  Hurry! Come!”

Emily leapt off her horse and ran back through the fields with the boy just ahead of her.

When they broke out of the cane they could see the foreman whipping a Kanak man with a horsewhip as he cowered and tried to protect himself from the blows. The blood and raised welts indicated many other blows had been delivered.  Three of the foreman’s offsiders stood by laughing and giving him encouragement.

“Give it to him, Bill!”

“Show him what for!”

Emily felt a terrible anger boiling up inside of her as she screamed at the men.

“Leave that man alone!”

The men straightened up and looked at her but there was no shame in any of their faces as she approached.

“What in God’s name are you doing?” she demanded.

“Don’t get excited, Miss, you don’t know how things run here. You have to set an example or none of these lazy blacks will work. He ain’t hurt are you Mio?”

“No, Boss, Mio no hurt,” said the injured Kanak as he tried to stand and failed as he fell to his knees.

“Yeah, they’re all the same, trying for sympathy….”

“Get off my land!” screamed Emily, loudly and perhaps an octave higher than she would have liked. “You’re fired! All of you!”

 “What?” laughed Bill. “Now, Miss, don’t get yourself all excited.  Your father understands the way the fields work. This ain’t no tea party out here for proper young ladies and gentlemen. Now, why don’t you run along and leave the men to deal with this.”

The other three laughed and turned back to their work.

“You heard me, you’re fired, all of you! Pick up your money at the house,” she said as she helped Mio to one of the cane wagons.

“Hey, now I don’t take orders from no sheila, I don’t care if she is the boss’ daughter so if you don’t mind I’ve got work to do,” retorted Bill as he and his cronies turned back to their tasks.

“You heard the lady,” said a calm, deep voice nearby. “You’re fired, now get off this land.”

“Oh, Mister, you sure are looking for some trouble. Now if you’re smart you’ll clear off before you get hurt,” spoke Bill warningly.

“I’m not leaving, you are!” came the reply.

It was Bill who took the first swing but he didn’t make contact. He was almost stunned by a left-cross to the jaw and he stumbled backwards momentarily. Emily watched as Bill’s three friends jumped the American.  Two of them grabbed his arms and the third got his arm around his neck from behind.

“Get him, Bill!” cried one of them as they struggled with the powerful field hand.

“Let him go!” yelled Emily furiously while supporting Mio.

Bill smiled as he jabbed three quick punches into the abdomen of the worker. He was going to enjoy this.  Suddenly Aru the Kanak boy leapt upon the one holding his arm around the worker’s throat.  He released his grip and turned to fight the feisty lad half his size. This allowed the American to use the two men holding his arms as leverage to rise up and kick Bill square in the teeth. The foreman fell backwards and saw the American breaking free and swinging angry but controlled blows at his allies. He made short work of the two and then turned his attention to the one fighting the boy. Aru was putting up a bold struggle but was obviously in trouble with the older man looking for blood.

“Hey!  Leave the kid alone!”

The man dropped bruised Aru and turned to face the American.  He was surprised to see his three friends down and this fellow still looking strong and mad as hell. He didn’t like the way this was shaping up. Suddenly he turned tail and ran back through the fields.

“Come back you coward! ” yelled Aru as he started to chase off the fleeing man.

“Aru, no!  Come back! ” called Emily worriedly.

She knew that he was heading for the nearest work gang probably to get help.

“I’ll get him,” called the American as he dashed off after the Kanak boy.

Adam felt his blood pounding as he raced through the cane fields. Running wasn’t something he enjoyed and with weeds slapping his face and unsure footing he hated this wild run trying to catch up with the nimble-footed boy. Suddenly the cane ended and Adam saw the fleeing man had rallied a gang of workers who were heading in his direction, some were holding axe-handles. Aru flew back past him in the opposite direction looking for cover.

“Run, Mister, run!” he called as he disappeared into the tall cane.

At that moment Adam didn’t think that he could run another step as his ragged breath came quickly. The boy he had come to rescue had dodged off expertly into the cane jungle and he was left here to face the music. How did he get himself into these things?

As seven men circled towards him Adam suddenly felt more alone than he ever had before in his life. What he wouldn’t have given to have his two brothers here with him right now. The three of them would have been able to take these men fighting back to back as they’d done before but alone Adam knew he was in big trouble.

“All right! Next man who moves gets shot!” called Emily emerging from the cane with a cocked shotgun.

Adam had never been happier to see anyone in all his life!

“So Mister Cartwright, what brings you to our colonial shores?  Gold perhaps?” asked Jacob Summers of his dinner guest.

“Not exactly,” said Adam with a gentle smile. “Guess I’m just traveling the world seeking my fortune, as it were.”

Jake Summers snorted derisively and attacked his roast chicken with ferocity, ignoring the warning glare from his sister. He didn’t like this bloody yank!  First he’d lost the plantation ten of their best workers due to some scuffle in the fields and now he was sniffing around his sister. Jake looked at Emily disgustedly.  She was all dressed up in her best dress with her hair up with ribbons in it.  Ribbons yet! She was looking at this American saddle-tramp like he was the dessert.

Suddenly Jake sprung up and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Well, I’ve got work to do. Thanks to you two we’re short-handed on the burn tonight.”

“Jake, you’re being rude to our guest,” warned his father in a stern tone. “Sit down, have dessert, we’ve got time before the cane burn is to begin.”

“Well excuse me for not being no diplomat but I’ve got work to do and I don’t want any dessert. You coming, Em?”

“I’ll be along,” replied Emily between clenched teeth.

Jake walked out angrily. It wasn’t like Emily to be so casual over plantation business especially considering what tonight was. Maybe she'd finally turned into one of those simpering sheilas he’d seen from the city.

“I hope I’m not intruding upon you at an inconvenient time,” said Adam. “I wouldn’t like to keep you from your work.”

“Not at all, son,” replied Jacob Summers. “It’s the least we can do to feed you after what happened today. Besides I would like to hear more about the Ponderosa. More wine?”

Adam smiled. He couldn’t help but like Jacob Summers, he reminded him in many ways of his own father.  Jacob was a tall, strong man with graying brown hair and deeply tanned skin.  He had an amiability about him that showed in his deeply carved laugh-lines and his kind, open face.

Adam was enjoying the dinner and the company immensely. It seemed like an age to him since he had enjoyed a home-cooked meal and the conversation about the family and the local community was warming to his soul.  Jacob was one of the patrons of the new church that would soon be built in Gladstone and he seemed delighted in its construction progress. It would be ready by Easter services it was hoped.

Every time Adam glanced at Emily he saw in her lovely eyes that she was interested in him romantically. Emily was about the most beautiful girl that Adam had ever seen and he felt very drawn to her. He found himself stealing glances at her full lips, shining hair and comely figure. Adam wondered how much of his ardent interest in Emily was due to his long spell without female companionship.  His libido had been starved by long months at sea.  Emily Summers was a beauty all right, he would have to work hard to keep his head.

“Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me I must change into my work clothes,” said Emily graciously.

“Of course, my dear,” beamed Jacob as he and his dinner guest rose gallantly as Emily left the table.

Jacob liked the influence that Adam Cartwright had on his daughter. She was certainly acting very ladylike and demure which was unusual for Emily.

“Let’s go into the den, young man. Brandy?”

“Yes, thank you, Sir.”

The two men moved into the den with easy comradeship.

Adam immediately liked this room; it had a comfortable, masculine feel to it like the Ponderosa ranch house. As he looked around the room Adam’s eye was caught by a portrait of a stunning woman.

“My dear wife Elaine. I lost her when Emily was born.”

Adam felt a twinge of pain go through him.  So Emily and he had something in common, both of their mothers had died giving birth to them.

Jacob poured the brandy into two snifters and handed one to Adam.  Jacob liked this young man very much. Everything about him seemed forthright, honest and decent. He could tell by his strong shoulders and work worn hands that this boy wasn’t afraid of hard work. He hoped that Emily could make him stick around.  Adam Cartwright was his idea of a perfect son-in-law.

“I’m sorry. She was a very beautiful woman.”

“Yes, Emily looks a lot like her don’t you think?”

“She certainly does.”

“You know we need a new foreman around here, Adam and it pays rather better than the wages you’re getting now. Interested?”

“But I know nothing about sugar-cane,” protested Adam.

“You’ll soon learn and from what you’ve told me you’re used to running crews of men, of supervising, meeting deadlines and so on. Besides Emily will be glad to show you the ropes.”

“What about Jake? How would he feel about it?”

Jacob laughed.  “Jake’s a hard-head but he’ll soon get used to the idea once he sees what a good job you do.”

“You seem to have a lot of confidence in me.”

“Well, you’re not going to let me down are you?”

“Guess not.  Thank you, Mr Summers. I’ll do the best job I know how.”

“I know you will, son, I know you will.”

“What’s this about a job?” asked Emily, suddenly appearing in her jodhpurs and shirt.

“Adam is going to be our new foreman, Em.  Do you approve?”

“Oh, that’s wonderful news!” Emily’s face colored as she realized that she might have seemed a little too delighted.  She looked away embarrassed.

“Now I’ve got to get going. The burn will be starting soon,” said Emily quickly.

“Do you need any help?” asked Adam.

“No, Adam, everything’s taken care of.  Jake and Em have everything under control.  We can watch the burn from the verandah.”

Emily left hastily and they moved out onto the spacious verandah that covered three sides of the large, colonial house. Adam had wondered why even these fancy houses were set high on stumps until they had told him of the rainy season.

“This is the first time I’ve left the cane burn to my children. It’s kind of a special night for them. It’s hard for me to sit back and let them take charge of things but I guess we all have challenges we must meet. After all this plantation was set up for them and they must learn how to take care of it.”

“You sound like my father talking about our ranch.  I think you two would get on very well, you seem to have much in common.”

“I’d like to meet him one day, Adam. Do you think he’d ever come out here to Australia?”

“Not unless he was out looking for strays and got severely lost,” laughed Adam.

Jacob laughed heartily, he couldn’t have liked this young fellow more. He could imagine Adam and Emily married already and on the way to giving him some of those grandchildren he so longed for. ‘Don’t blow it, Em’, he thought, ‘this one’s a keeper’.

“Oh, it’s starting, Adam.  Look!”

The two men lent on the verandah rail and looked out across the cane-fields as orange flames shot up in the darkness from several points at once.

“Isn’t it dangerous?” asked Adam as the fires began to dance through the fields with alarming alacrity.

“Not if it’s properly done. You’ll need to get rid of that coat or you’ll bake,” replied Jacob as he removed his own coat and tie.

Adam slipped off the dress-coat he had borrowed from Mr Summers and untied his own tie.  He could tell from his companion’s expression that this was a proud moment for him.  Seeing his children take charge of an important part of the plantation’s work must have been very satisfying. Adam smiled as he remembered how proud his own father was when he had taken charge of his first cattle drive as a young man not long back from college.

The fire sprang up seemingly in all directions at once and if it wasn’t for Mr Summer’s cool demeanor Adam may have been worried.  The heat about them was oppressive and the fire seemed to steal the air of the night away.

Yet somehow here in the middle of this dantesque inferno with flames leaping to the stars and sparks flying like lightning bugs Adam felt an incredible exhilaration and euphoria.  Was his own fate somehow being forged in the very fire about him?

Part Six – The Rock That Shelters
 

“Joe! Get that straggler!” yelled Ben Cartwright as he turned in the saddle to call to his youngest son.

“Got him, Pa!” called back, Joe as he expertly and effortlessly rode the maverick steer back into the herd on Cochise.

Roundup time on the Ponderosa was always hard work but Ben Cartwright found it exciting. He looked out at the large herd with pride. This year would be very prosperous for the Cartwrights. It was the largest roundup they’d ever had.

Ben looked to find Hoss. No matter how old they were Ben still worried about his sons’ safety during roundup. Moving a big herd always had an element of danger and Ben was first and foremost a father above all else.

With a kick Ben took his horse Buck around the right flank of the herd.  They were almost done with the roundup needing only to move the herd to lower pastures prior to the cattle-drive. Seeing a troublesome steer making for the trees Ben drew his lasso and roped the rebel easily. The large animal kicked and pulled trying to continue on its way to cover.  Ben wrapped the rope around his saddle-horn and Buck strained to drag the beast back towards the herd. Suddenly close to the herd the rope went slack. Ben turned just in time to see the angry steer charging his horse. Swiftly Ben dislodged his foot from the stirrup and kicked at its horn to try and turn it away while drawing his rifle from his saddle scabbard to use as a club.

The steer’s horns grazed Buck’s side and the buckskin horse reared in fear. Ben with one foot out of the stirrup and his rifle in his hands couldn’t hold his seat. He fell heavily into the edge of the herd. The whinnying of the horse spooked the cattle and some began to run.

Hoss was the first to see Ben fall but he was too far away. He yelled to Joe and pointed.  “ Joe! Pa’s down! Over there!”

Joe turned Cochise in a twinkling and rode straight into the edge of the herd where his father had fallen. It looked like some steers were trampling him. Fearlessly Joe jumped off his horse and powerfully pushed his way through the cattle to where his father lay bleeding.   A steam train couldn’t have kept Joe from making it through.  It didn’t seem long before Hoss was beside him kneeling at Ben’s side. Their father was unconscious with what looked like a bad head wound. Joe pulled out his bandana and tried to stop the bleeding. He had never seen his father so pale and frail and it scared him mightily.

“Get a wagon! We’ve got to get Pa to a doctor!” yelled Joe desperately.

Hoss put his ear to Ben’s mouth to check his breathing. He looked like he was slipping away.

“He’s alive,” said Hoss in a gray voice. “But he’s only just breathin’, where’s that god-damn wagon? ”

Even in the shock, emotion and surreal quality of that terrible moment Joe was struck with the thought that he had never heard his big brother swear before. Somehow it only made him more afraid for the fate of his most beloved and cherished father.

Despite the long hoped for cool spell Adam couldn’t sleep.  He tossed and turned in his comfortable bed in the plantation house with his mind spinning. So much had happened in the last six weeks.  Adam had learned more than he ever could have imagined about sugarcane and he found the work interesting.  He knew that there were a lot of improvements that he could make to modernize the operation but he had to be careful to take things slowly with Jake.  Jake had come to begrudgingly respect Adam’s ability to get things done but Adam knew that there was still much more to conquer with Jake and every inch was hard fought for territory.

Jacob Summers trusted Adam’s judgment and all the workers seemed to like him too, white and Kanak alike. As a foreman he was tough but fair. Adam had gone up against Jake a few times to weed out workers he didn’t want around the plantation and every time it was a struggle. At least his work had paid off and the Summers plantation now had crews that weren’t peppered with drunkards, bigots and slackers. Even Jake had to reluctantly admit that the new workers had increased production.

Emily was delighted with Adam’s work for the plantation and she took every opportunity to spend time with the handsome American.  Adam had tried to keep a little distance between him and Emily but that had failed miserably and they were spending more time together than ever.  Her father seemed to go out of his way to make sure Adam and Emily had time together, picnics, buggy rides and evenings where Jacob would mysteriously be tired around 7pm and retire early.

Jake seemed to spend most nights out with the boys, playing cards, drinking or going to some dance or other to look for young women. Emily and Adam pretty much had the run of the house in the evenings.

With his days filled with work on the plantation and his nights filled with Emily Adam hadn’t had time to work on something that was becoming more and more important to him, his writing. He had long since put aside the story of the family coming west that he’d first worked on. When he looked at it now it seemed clunky and amateurish. Adam had begun work on a story that seemed close to his heart. It was the tale of a man from New England who went through many changes in his philosophy as he traveled the world.  It was a story with more modern philosophy and a rejection of the narrow-minded and judgmental old world thinking. His writings were obviously influenced by the philosophy writers he had studied such as Voltaire and Hegel. He knew he still had much to learn about his craft.

Adam had always been a man who needed to think things out for himself and not follow something because it was tradition. He was always looking for new ways to do things as much as he was always looking for new ways of thinking and being.  Many of the worst fights that he had with his father were over Adam’s love of new ways of doing things on the Ponderosa.

Now the meager few pages he had started on his story had long since lain unadded to in his drawer. More and more Adam was beginning to think that he was born to write.  He would like to be a published author one day but whether he was or not he knew that he had a deep need within himself to express feelings and thoughts in the written word. Adam needed to write, if only he had the time.  For now the plantation and Emily, lovely, wonderful Emily were all he had time for.

Adam shook his head. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Emily was astoundingly beautiful, courageous, intelligent, educated and affectionate. She was everything he could ever hope for in a woman. If anything Emily Summers was too good for him so what was holding him back? When they kissed Adam could barely control himself he knew that. Emily Summers made his pulse and his hormones race.  He had spent countless sleepless nights with visions of her face and shapely feminine form dancing before him. Working with her in her riding britches was distracting to say the least.

Rising from the bed, Adam walked to the window and opened it quietly.  He didn’t want to wake the rest of the household. He lent on the windowsill and enjoyed the cool night air on his bare torso. The moon was high and the plantation stretched out like a magic moonlit kingdom before him.

Adam felt like his life was a jigsaw puzzle with the final piece that wouldn’t fit no matter how hard he tried to force it in. He knew that marrying Emily was what was expected of him.  Her father would be delighted if he proposed and Jacob Summers had already given broad hints that Emily and her husband would inherit half of the plantation. Her brother Jake also seemed to be resigned to the idea.

The Summers plantation was a real goldmine.  They had more than 30 000 acres of prime sugar-cane land.  It was perfectly placed close to a port for shipping with a ready supply of laborers from the incoming ships when needed.  The cane cutting and planting were seasonal and at other times of the year there were opportunities for other projects. Adam’s mind was already working on ways to use the time and the land that wasn’t right for cane production. If this plantation was his he would start working on a cane processing mill and….. What was he thinking?  This plantation wasn’t his. It belonged to Jacob Summers and his children the same way the Ponderosa belonged to Ben Cartwright and his sons.

Closing the window he returned to bed. Adam knew in his heart what was wrong and he finally admitted it to himself. He wasn’t in love with Emily. Certainly he adored her and wanted her so badly his teeth hurt but he wasn’t in love with her. What made it even worse was that he was pretty certain that Emily was in love with him.

Love?  ‘What am I? A schoolgirl?’ thought Adam angrily to himself. He would never find another girl like Emily if he searched the whole world over. Adam thought of how his father talked of the magic he felt when he saw Adam’s mother Elizabeth for the first time.  That sort of magic, that feeling of certainty that this was the one human being for him was something he’d always sought and hoped for. Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t written to his family in the last six weeks. Apart from a quick letter on arrival he hadn’t written another word. That certainly wasn’t like Adam. What was holding him back?

Adam sighed. He wished he had his father here now to talk to.  Adam was all mixed up inside, his mind and his heart were locked in combat.  Perhaps that dream of love was not for him. Adam knew that he was a very sensible man who tried to act prudently and logically whenever possible. He thought how many times in the past that love had escaped him. Perhaps for him there was no ‘magic’ person.  Perhaps he was just too cautious to let anyone truly and deeply into his hidden heart again. He was sure that in time he would grow to love the wondrous Emily. He would be a good, faithful and sweet-natured husband to her and she would never have a day of unhappiness in her life if he had anything to say about it. It wasn’t the plantation that drew Adam to marrying Emily it was his conscience. Adam was a man of honor who always did the right thing. Emily loved him and he couldn’t hurt her with rejection. She deserved so much more.

As a mosquito buzzed around his head he daydreamed about taking Emily back to the Ponderosa.  He smiled as he thought of the bewitching Emily charming his father, wrapping Hoss’ big heart around her little finger and out riding Joe. Emily would fit in well on the Ponderosa but would she ever leave her family and the plantation? They seemed as dear to her as his own family and land were to him.

Adam hoped that Emily would come back with him to the Ponderosa but if it would make her unhappy to leave her family and the plantation then he wouldn’t force it on her. He wanted her to be happy above all else. Adam smiled again.  Perhaps that’s what love was, putting another person’s happiness above your own.  He liked the idea of settling down with Emily and raising a family. He knew both Jacob and his own father would be delighted about that. The thought of Emily sleeping beside him in bed was very appealing indeed.

Finally Adam slept after deciding that he would marry Emily Summers.

“How’s he doing, Doc?” asked Hoss worriedly.

“The fever’s down but it’s the head wound that worries me,” replied Doc Martin as he came down the stairs of the Ponderosa ranch house with Hoss and Joe following close behind him.

Joe and Hoss exchanged worried glances as they reached the main room. Hop Sing was waiting there, his face pale with concern.

“Keep him quiet. I’ll be back tonight.  I’ll be over at the Patterson’s farm if there’s a turn for the worst. Goodbye now.”

“Bye, Doc,” said Hoss distractedly.

Joe’s face was a mask of concern and for the first time in his life Hoss thought his little brother looked old. The boyish exuberance had suddenly vanished leaving a tired and worried man in its place.

“Don’t you worry none now, Little Joe. Pa, he’s a tough old goat and he’s going to be jest fine. Now you get out and get to work. Won’t do no good for Pa to get better and find we’ve let the ranch go to wrack and ruin.”

“Hoss, how can I concentrate with my father up there maybe dying? I’m going up to sit with him,” said Joe angrily.

Hoss grabbed Joe’s arm as he turned towards the staircase and spun him back around.

“You listen to me, Joe!  Pa’s sick and Adam’s away so that makes me the head of this family for now, you hear?  The Doc said he should be kept quiet and only one of us should sit with him so the other goes out and sees to the ranch work.  It’s what Adam or Pa would have decided and it’s what I’m deciding. We’ve sat up with him all night.  Now you either get out to work or get up to bed and get some rest. Them’s your choices!  Either way there’s branding to be done and somebody’s going to do it.”

Joe was flabbergasted. He wasn’t used to being spoken to like that by Hoss. He bit back a sharp retort as he saw the pain and weariness in his brother’s face.

“You’re right, Hoss. I’ll get out on the range.”

Hoss breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good, Joe, I’ll come relieve you at lunch time and you can back and sit with Pa then. Go on now.”

“All right, Big Brother,” said Joe softly as he touched Hoss’ strong shoulder before leaving.

“I make good broth for Missa Ben,” said Hop Sing, shuffling off to the kitchen, happy to have something to do to try and take his mind off things.

Hoss climbed the stairs and quietly sat beside his father’s bed. Ben looked so pale that Hoss grew even more afraid.  He could not even imagine what it would be like on the Ponderosa without his father.

Hoss offered up a silent prayer as he took Ben’s hand then spoke in hushed tones to his stricken father.

“Pa, don’t you leave us. Reckon this is what it must have been like for you when we was sick as young ‘uns. You worrying yourself sick over us like always.  Mebbe we never said it or nothing but we love you and we need you. Stay with us, Pa.”

The Ponderosa and the Cartwright family were built on a solid foundation stone, Ben Cartwright.  He had stood strong and unbreakable through all the many long trials that he and his sons had faced.  He was the rock that sheltered them all and his strength was slipping away.

Part Seven – A Dream of Home
 

Adam awoke just before dawn and the dream that he’d had seemed so vivid that his heart was racing. It had seemed so real! Adam lay motionless on the bed trying to recall every part of the dream trying to keep it fresh in his memory.  He feared it would soon be lost like a will-o-wisp in the morning light as is the way of dreams.

In his dream he was standing by Ben’s bedside watching Hoss talking to their father. Adam was alarmed to see Ben looking so pale and weak. Hoss had tears in his eyes and Adam felt his own heart ready to fall away. This was a terrible dream. A nightmare!

Adam moved to feel Ben’s bandaged forehead and Ben’s eyes weakly opened.

“A….A…dam?”

“No, Pa, it’s me, Hoss. Adam ain’t here, remember?”

“Adam, it’s good to see you, son.”

“It’s good to see you too, Pa. What happened to you? Are you going to be all right?”

“Oh, just a troublesome steer. I’ll be fine, son. How are you? You look well.”

“Pa, you should rest. You’re seeing things,” said Hoss worriedly as Hop Sing entered.

“What wrong, Missa Hoss?”

“Pa’s out of his head. He thinks Adam is here. Get some more cool water for this cold compress will ya, Hop Sing. The fever might be coming back.”

“Adam, are you coming home, son?”

“Yes, Pa, I’ll be coming home when I’m done seeing the world.  Will you promise to be here safe and sound when I do come home?”

“I promise, Adam,” said Ben happily.  “Are you happy, son?”

“Yes, there’s a girl that I’m going to marry, you’d like her.”

“A girl? That’s wonderful. You must love her very much.”

“Pa, there ain’t no girl and there ain’t no Adam. Rest now, Doc Martin will be back tonight.”

“Adam?”

“I’m here, Pa. I’m here.”

“You didn’t answer me, son. Do you love this girl?”

“No, Pa, I don’t love her.”

“Then why are you marrying her? Are you going to lie to her? Tell her you love her?  How would she feel after your marriage if she found out that you don’t love her.”

“Pa, you’re crazy with fever. There ain’t no girl. Don’t you trouble yourself ‘bout nothin’. Hurry up with that cold water, Hop Sing!”

“Pa, I have to go. Get well and I’ll come home when I can. I promise.”

“Wait, Adam.  Listen to me. I was a lucky man. I was in love three times in my life and even though I lost the ones I loved I wouldn’t have traded a single moment of our time together for anything. Love is the best thing that life offers us, don’t discount it, Adam. Don’t marry the wrong woman even if your reasons seem sound.”

Those were the last words that Adam heard in his dream. As he rose, bathed, shaved and dressed for the day he considered the dream. As the sun rose Adam convinced himself that only a foolish or a superstitious man would think that his father was really injured. Pa was fine!  It was the words that his father had spoken in the dream that stayed with him. Adam knew it was just his own inner voice speaking to him in guise of his father but the more he thought on the words the stronger he felt that marrying Emily was not the right thing to do.  How would he tell her?

“Broth! Bah! How can a man recover without decent food?” complained Ben.

Hoss and Joe exchanged amused looks. Their father was starting to sound like his old crotchety self again. This was a very good sign.

“You hear what Doc Martin say, only broth for you,” replied Hop Sing.

“Now don’t you go scaring us like that again, Pa,” said Joe as he moved to sit on Ben’s bed. “Doc Martin said you’d be just fine but you have to stay in bed.”

“Stay in bed! I’ve got too much to do to be lounging around in bed,” protested Ben.

“And I told Doc Martin if you didn’t stay in bed and tried to get up that I’d pick you up and tote you right back here,” said Hoss.

“He means it, Pa, you better listen,” smiled Joe. “You don’t believe him you just try it.”

“Pa, you really were out of your head with the fever there for a while. You thought Adam was here and you were talking to him about not marrying some gal if he didn’t love her,” said Hoss.

“I did? I don’t remember a thing,” answered Ben. “Hop Sing, I’m still hungry.”

“I get you more broth, plenty in pot.”

“No, not more broth. I want some bread, meat, potatoes.”

“This meat, this potatoes, this beef and vegetable broth. I get you more. Velly good for you.”

“Don’t worry, Pa, that broth is made out of that ornery steer that charged you and spooked Buck,” said Hoss.

“What?”

“Yeah, Pa, you’re eating him. We thought it was the ultimate revenge for you,” laughed Joe.

Ben looked at them both a moment before replying.

“I suppose that I should count myself lucky that Buck wasn’t spooked by a skunk.”

“Emily, if we were to wed would you come and live back on the Ponderosa with me?” asked Adam.

The two of them were leaning against the verandah rail enjoying the moonlight after supper.

Emily thought a long moment before replying.

“No, Adam, I couldn’t leave my family. I couldn’t leave the plantation.”

Adam smiled.  It had been a big chance but in his restless, sleepless nights he had realized that this was the best way to approach this thorny problem.

“I thought that you would feel that way. You see I can’t leave my family either or the Ponderosa. Oh, sure, I can travel and see a little of the world but the only place for me and my wife to settle down would be on my family’s ranch in Nevada.”

Emily turned her sorrowful eyes towards him.

“If you truly loved me you would stay here and run the ranch with Jake and me.”

“And if you truly loved me you would come home to Nevada with me,” he countered.

Emily turned her head away and looked out over the fields. She pulled her silken shawl tighter around her shoulders.

“Is there no way we can solve this problem?”

Adam could hear the tears in her voice and it rent his heart but he stood firm. He couldn’t weaken now. Too much was at stake for both of them.  He had realized what a disservice it would be to her to marry her and deprive her of the chance of finding her true love. For someone like Emily there would be no shortage of suitors.

“I’m afraid not, Emily,” he said softly. “If we really, truly loved each other this wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Is that it then?  Is it that we don’t love each other enough?”

She turned her beautiful, teary face towards him and it was all he could do not to step forward and take her in his arms and comfort her by telling her anything she wanted to hear.  He had to be strong now. Both of their futures depended on it.

“I think that it’s just that you and I aren’t right for each other. We’re just not meant to be. You know my feelings for you, Emily. I think you’re the most wonderful girl that I’ve ever known but we come from two different worlds. Your home is here with your family and my home is with my family on the other side of the world. One thing I’m sure of though, someone as beautiful and divine as you Emily will not be alone for long unless she chooses to be so.”

Emily’s shoulders shook with emotion.

“There’s no-one here that I would even bother with,” she sniffed.

“Come now, Emily, I’ve seen some of the young gentlemen you’ve spurned at dances and such.  What was wrong with them? How about that new handsome, young farm owner out from Scotland? I don’t recall his name but he was enchanted with you at the Social. I know you liked him. You danced with him twice.”

Emily chuckled.

“That was just to make you jealous. He’s all right I suppose. He did seem to know a lot about thoroughbreds.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, Emily, but I know that you will have much happiness ahead of you.”

“You did hurt me, Adam. I had such dreams of us being married and raising our family here together on the plantation. Even calling our first son Jacob after my father. But in a way I suppose you did me a favor. You de-iced me a little. Maybe now I’m ready to fall in love with a man….again. Before you arrived I wouldn’t have given anyone a second glance, certainly not Harry McGregor.”

Adam laughed. “So, you remembered his name. I knew it! One thing though, Emily, if we had a son our first would have been named for my father, Benjamin. I decided that long ago.”

“Oh, you did, did you? You’d be impossible to live with, Adam Cartwright. I think I’m getting off lightly.”

Her fresh tears belied Emily’s laughter. Her deep disappointment was obvious.

Adam moved to kiss her on the forehead.

“Be happy, Emily.  I will never forget you.”

“You sound like you’re going somewhere,” said Emily in alarm.

“Yes, I’m leaving tomorrow. I’ve already spoken to your father. He was very disappointed but he understood. Your father is a good man.”

“But where are you going?”

“Some of the locals are heading out prospecting for gold. I’m putting in part of the stake. Me and three others we’re going to try our luck out west.”

“I’ll miss you, Adam. Good luck.”

“Thank you, Emily. Goodnight.”

As Adam turned a resounding blow to the face knocked him down.

“Get up you bloody yank weasel!” yelled Jake Summers.

Emily screamed. “What are you doing, Jake? Stop it!”

“Stay out of this, Emily. This is for the men of the family to settle. This weasel has been trifling with you and now Dad just told me that he’s leaving. Well, he ain’t getting out of here so quick.  He’s impuned your honor and he can bloody well marry you or I’ll have his guts for garters!”

Adam looked at the tall, wiry Jake Summers from the floor as he wiped the blood from his mouth. He knew that he could take him but he somehow didn’t want to. He felt much empathy for the young man who obviously loved his younger sister and wanted only to defend her honor.  Perhaps part of him felt that he had deserved the blow.

“Get up!”

 “Jake! What are you doing?” demanded Jacob Summers appearing from the den and grabbing the arms of his son.

“I’m going to horsewhip this dingo until he agrees to marry Emily.”

“Marry me?” laughed Emily. “Jake, don’t you know why Adam is leaving?”

Jake shook himself free of his father’s hold.

“I heard from some of the laborers that he was going off prospecting tomorrow,” replied Jake.

“And why would he be going off digging for gold when he would already has it so sweet here?” asked Emily, warming to the tale as Adam got up.

“Because I told him to go, he asked me to marry him and I said no.”

“You said no?” asked Jake, confused.

“It’s right, she did,” answered Adam.

“There’s someone else, Jake. Harry McGregor, I met him at the Social.”

“You mean you turned him down?” asked Jake.  “I’m sorry, Adam.  I hope that I didn’t hurt you. I’m really sorry.”

“No harm done, Jake.”

Jake offered Adam his hand and he shook it.

“Well, gentlemen, I’ll say goodnight,” said Emily as she went indoors regally her pride intact.

“That’s women for you,” shrugged Jake.

“Now come on you two let’s give Adam a farewell drink.  You all right, Adam?  You look like you’ve tangled with a boxing kangaroo,” said Jacob Summers as he led them back into the den.

“Sure, I’m fine but this sort of thing usually happens to my youngest brother. Unlike him I’m not used to the wear and tear.”

Part Eight – Boomerang Heart
 

“Hey, you didn’t open that parcel from Adam without me I hope,” said Joe, rushing into the house and removing his hat and green jacket.

“No, we didn’t. It’s addressed to all of us,” replied Ben. “Did you get that new bull up to the herd?”

“Yes, Pa, Hoss the second is up with the cows,” said Joe with a giggle.

Hoss jumped up from his cozy spot by the fireplace.

“Dadgummit, Little Joe, I told you not to call him that again or I’d give you a whuppin’.”

“But, Hoss, he looks just like you, the resemblance is uncanny,” joked Joe, moving behind Ben for protection as Hoss closed in.

“Now, boys, enough of this. Joe, don’t tease your brother. Don’t you two want to hear Adam’s news and see what he’s sent us?”

“Pa, he just plum won’t…..”

“I want to hear Adam’s news.  Ssshh, Hoss, Pa is going to open Adam’s parcel,” broke in Joe, moving to sit on the edge of his father’s desk where the large square parcel sat.

Hoss gave his youngest brother a furious look before sitting down again stiffly.  Joe would keep!  Hoss was anxious to hear from Adam.  It had been months since they had heard any news from their brother. The last they had heard from him was a brief letter saying he had arrived safely in Australia.

Ben opened the wrapping and found a wooden crate inside. Using a hunting knife he easily lifted the top boards off from their nailed down position.  Inside Ben was pleased to see quite a few written pages in Adam’s characteristic neat but flowing script.  Beneath it was a number of things.

Joe reached in to pull out a strange, flat, bent wooden object decorated with paintings.

“What the heck is this?” he asked.

“We’ll read the letter first,” replied Ben, taking the wooden object off Joe and placing it carefully back in the crate.

“This parcel has come a long way.  It’s probably been on ships for months so a few more minutes won’t make much difference.”

Ben took out the pages and cleared his throat before reading it aloud.
 

“Dear Pa, Hoss and Joe,

I hope this letter finds you all in good health and spirits with the Ponderosa prospering.  I am writing this letter in a hotel called ‘The Victoria’ in Sydney, Australia.  Sydney is a large, thriving city with a beautiful harbour. Currently I am staying in a part of the city called ‘The Rocks’ which is one of the poorer districts but certainly full of colorful characters. The discovery of gold in the areas surrounding Sydney has led to a real boom time here and people are pouring in from all over the world.

This modestly priced hotel, however, seems like a king’s palace to me after having spent the last two months driving sheep! Please, Pa, don’t disown me because I’ve turned into a sheepman. It’s only temporary I assure you.

 After some time working in the cane fields in Queensland I worked my way west doing some prospecting for gold. I was with some other cane-cutters and we all had big dreams of striking it rich. We didn’t have much luck so I went southwest and got a job as a stockman with a sheep station to try and earn myself a stake. Stockmen are what they call cowboys over here and stations are what they call ranches. Many of the sheep stations are massive supplying big markets with the quickly expanding population.

I had no trouble getting a job after my ranching experience but the work was very hard. The combination of the hot, dusty conditions, the stink of the sheep and the sheer size of the flock made it very challenging indeed. The thing I like about sheep is that they tend to keep together and follow each other so they’re generally easier to drive than cattle. They are very dumb animals though and if one does something stupid, like jumping into a creek, many tend to follow.  Give me cattle any day!  Then again, from what I’ve seen of what they call “scrub cattle” over here I’m not so sure I’d trade my sheep in for them. They’re half loco most of them having hardly ever seen a human and are likely to try and charge anyone and anything, cows and bulls alike.

One thing I found very interesting was the Australian use of dogs for driving both sheep and cattle. They have some breeds of fearless dogs down here like kelpies and blue heelers which are a big help to the stockmen.  One of the most amazing things I saw when I first arrived at the sheep station were dogs running across the back of the flock of sheep to take short-cuts to where they wanted to be. Now such a sight is nothing and I wouldn’t bat an eye at it. The dogs are just incredible and Pa, I think we could sure use some of them on the Ponderosa.

These dogs charge in at sheep and scrub cattle alike and are quick and fearless nipping at their heels.  The dogs are greatly loved by the stockmen who often get them to ride up on their horses with them. It’s really incredible to see such understanding between dog and man.

The stock horses too are a hardy breed with a lot of them broken from wild brumbies.  Brumbies are what they call the horses that have gone wild, what we would call wild broncos.

During the trip I got a chance to meet and work with some of the native Australians who are called Aboriginals. Aboriginal simply means original inhabitants and unfortunately many of the locals have rude and ignorant names for them which I shall not repeat. In many ways the Aboriginals seem to be treated the same as our Indians. Sometimes I’m ashamed to be white when I hear of some of the things that have been done to these poor people.

One Aboriginal boy that travelled with us was called Boola. We worked together a lot on the sheep drive and I found him good company indeed. Boola taught me a lot about the Aboriginal customs and their respect for and connection with the land again reminded me of the Indians. I am just amazed that Aboriginal people can live in such harsh and desolate terrain as the Australian outback .

Boola taught me some of the Aboriginal tracking secrets. What they call the ‘black trackers’ are famous over here for being able to follow any trail. He also taught me many things about the native wildlife and flora.

It is just amazing to be driving a flock of sheep and see kangaroos hopping out of the way.  These kangaroos are just completely fascinating to me. I wish that you all could see them bounding along as it’s something that you would never forget.  You should see how fast they can move when going full speed. They can outrun horses and cover terrain that horses never could. I tried to keep up with one galloping on my horse one day and he left me for dead! It was so incredibly exhilarating to be racing a wild kangaroo in the Australian outback whooping like a renegade Indian.  That is the kind of thing that I never would have dreamt was possible.

When the male kangaroos fight they balance on their tails so they can kick with their powerful back legs. The female kangaroos keep their young in a pouch.  Boola tells me that a baby kangaroo is called a Joey (nothing personal, Joe).  It is just the cutest sight to see a Joey hopping around and then jumping back into its mama’s pouch if there’s any danger.  I’m glad Hoss isn’t over here as he would fall in love with them and insist on taking about twenty head of kangaroo home.  That would be all we would need on the Ponderosa, stock that can outjump horses and clear eight-foot fences. How would we ever get the roundup done not to mention the branding?

Boola has a pet kangaroo at the station named “Wattle”. I got to hand-feed her and pet her a few times. Her fur was very soft and she seemed quite intelligent. That reminds me, while I was there a photographer from Brisbane was visiting to take a photograph of some of the prize rams for an upcoming auction. A lot of us paid him a pound to take a photograph of us. He took a photograph of me petting Wattle and also one of a lot of us standing near the shearing sheds.  I have sent them along in the parcel so that you can see what I look like now.  In the second picture I am holding my work dog Sid and my friend Boola is beside me.  Sid is a great dog and Hoss you won’t believe how well trained he is. I will miss my blue-heeler Sid, he has been a good companion on the trail.

Apart from kangaroos, other animals that I really am fascinated by are the koala bears that live in the gum trees.  Boola tells me that their name is Aboriginal for ‘does not drink’ because they don’t drink water. It doesn’t seem possible but it’s true according to Boola. When we camped by a billabong one evening I saw one koala up a tree and I kept my eye on it through the afternoon, evening and the next morning and I never saw it come down to drink from the billabong.

They also have birds over here called kookaburras.  They are like kingfishers.  The song of the kookaburra is like laughter and I love to hear them laughing at us as I ride by. Riding along in the blazing sun, listening to kookaburras, dodging kangaroos and resting my dog on my saddle made me feel like an Australian stockman born and bred.  It’s a whole new world down here and I’m pleased to have been a part of it. It’s been a real adventure!

I must confess though to being mightily saddle-sore though after such a long time away from riding.  I’m lying on my stomach across my bed writing this to give you some idea of the delicate condition of my rear end. It took me plenty of soap and hot water to wash the stink of those sheep off me too I can tell you. I’ve driven my last sheep!

What will no doubt shock you further is that I haven’t had a cup coffee in around three months! They drink tea on the trail here and in most homes and restaurants also. Coffee is rare indeed.  On the trail they drink what they call ‘billy’ tea which is tea made with a billy can. It’s a sight to see them prepare it. They boil up this billy can, put the tea leaves in then swing it 360 degrees a few times to mix it. Centrifugal force keeps the water from spilling out. Guess I’m kind of used to it now and I look forward to someone ‘boiling the billy’ as much as I used to look forward to a cup of coffee.

They also eat kangaroo meat on the trail sometimes but I thought of Wattle and I couldn’t partake. It was beef jerky for me that night.

Now let me tell you a little of the Australian people. They are like us in many ways in that they came from all over the world to settle a new land, some willingly some as convicts from England.  Many have found their bonanza here and many others are still looking. In general I find them a very friendly, fun-loving people who are ready with a joke and a story. Once you get used to their accents and strange expressions then listening to their wild stories, that they call ‘bush yarns’, are quite enjoyable and entertaining.

In case you haven’t realized it by now I just love Australia. It’s a wonderful and exciting place with lots to see and do.  The sights that I have seen here I will remember for all my born days.  I’ve really enjoyed visiting here but I guess I know it’s not the place for me to settle down. It’s too far away from home for one thing and for another I could never imagine giving up my own free, democratic country to live in a country under British rule.   I value too much the freedom so staunchly and courageously won by my countrymen who fought for our independence.

As much as I’ve looked in wonder upon the natural beauty of this country with its magnificent rainforests, beaches, plains and mountains I’ve seen nothing yet to compare with the breath-taking view of Lake Tahoe or the sight of the Sierra Nevadas covered in snow.  Am I looking with my heart or my eyes? Maybe a little of both.

Well, I’ve really gone on haven’t I? Now to the gifts that accompany this letter.  I guess that due to the time it takes for a parcel or letter to get from one side of the world to another that I will probably miss your birthdays.  So I have included gifts for you all and apology for any I may have missed.

For you, Pa, I have sent a boomerang. It is a wooden weapon thrown by the Aboriginal people here. If it doesn’t hit its target it returns to the hand of the thrower. I have drawn a diagram of how to throw it correctly and included it in the parcel. I thought, Pa, that it would make a nice addition to your weapons collection.  It is covered in Aboriginal art and Boola tells me it is a very good one. I hope you like it.

For you, Hoss, I have sent a wood carving of a platypus. It is a strange animal with a duckbill, duck feet and the body of an otter. It lays eggs but isn’t a bird or reptile.  These creatures live in creeks and rivers over here and are fascinating to watch, they are playful like beavers. I hope you like it.

For you, Joe, I have sent a kangaroo-skin coat which will be very warm in the cold weather. I hope it fits all right.  Just don’t tell Wattle that I bought a coat of one of her dead kin.

Finally for Hop Sing I have included a new mah-jong set that I found at the local Chinese markets. His old one must be about worn out by now.

Well, this will probably be the last you hear of me for a while as with my sheep-driving pay I have arranged steerage passage on a ship heading for Africa.  Africa is a continent that I have always wanted to see. I will post a letter at any port we stop at and try to keep in touch.

Please know also, dear family, that I think of you every day and though we are far apart part of my heart is with you.

Your loving son and brother,
Adam

“Well, it sounds like ol’ Adam is heading for some more adventures,” said Hoss thoughtfully.

“He is probably in Africa by now,” pondered Ben.

Joe was carefully studying the diagram that Adam had drawn on the boomerang throwing.  He picked up the boomerang again and held it in the same way as depicted.

“Joseph!” Ben bellowed.  “I believe Adam sent that boomerank to me!”

“B..b….boomerang, Pa, see, it says right here boomer-ANG.”

Ben grabbed the weapon off Joe.

“I don’t care if it’s called a dipsy DOODLE you keep your hands off it!”

Ben carefully placed the boomerang on his desk.

“Now, until I get a display hook set up you keep your hands off it. I don’t want it broken by being thrown willy-nilly.  It’s not a toy! It will be an important part of my weapons collection.”

“But something that comes back when you throw it. Come on, Pa, that’s pretty far-fetched.  It’s like Hoss buying that crooked rifle to shoot around corners.”

“That woulda worked dagnabbit, ‘ceptin’ you couldn’t see the target,” scowled Hoss.

“You two just keep your hands off this boomer…this THING!”

Ben carefully took out two photographs that were wrapped in a sheet of cotton.  In the first one he saw Adam crouching in front of a kangaroo feeding her a plum with one hand and patting her head with the other. Adam was smiling at the kangaroo and Ben was pleased to see how healthy and happy his first-born son appeared. He’d never seen him look better. It also occurred to Ben that this was the first glimpse he’d had of Adam since that fateful morning when he’d left home with harsh words between them.

Hoss and Joe moved to look at the picture.

“Hey, Ol’ Adam looks mighty good there.  This sure will be something to show folks around these parts.  Adam with one of them kangaroos. Did you ever see such a critter?”

Ben took out the second photograph. It showed a group of workmen standing around smiling and waving.  Ben smiled himself when he saw Adam standing on one end of the row. He was holding a plump, happy looking dog with his right hand and his left was on the shoulder of a dark-skinned boy.   What struck Ben about the picture was that there seemed to be a sense of belonging and camaraderie  between the workmen.

Seeing his son in the photographs made Ben both happy and sad at the same time. He was anxious for any sight or word of his son but it also served to remind him how far away from home he was.

“I sure do miss him,” remarked Joe sombrely while looking at the pictures.

“We all do, son. We all do,” said Ben putting his hand on Joe’s shoulder.  “Now, let’s see the rest of them presents,” said Hoss eagerly.

Hoss pulled out the wood-carving and looked at it in wonder.

“Ain’t that something? What a funny-looking critter. You think it’s really like Adam says or is he joshin’ us?”

“I think he meant it, Hoss.  Joe, here’s your coat.  Looks very smart I must say.”

Joe tried it on.  “Feels real nice, that fur is mighty soft.  Look, it’s got good sized pockets too”

“Them ain’t pockets, Joe, them’s pouches,” laughed Hoss. “Careful there ain’t no kangaroos young uns in ‘em.”

The three of them laughed together.

“I’ll give this to Hop Sing when he gets back from getting supplies.  I wonder how Adam is doing in Africa?” mused Ben.

“Ol’ Adam’ll be doing just fine, don’t you worry, Pa,” said Hoss reassuringly.

“If he’s in a bad mood then one look at older brother and those fee-roshius lions will run off like scared kitty-cats.”

They laughed again but Ben’s laughter was edged in sadness.  He wanted his boy back home where he belonged.  As much as Ben always longed for news of Adam when it came he was sad that he was still so far away. Ben longed to open a  letter or telegram saying “I’m coming home”.  Only then would Ben feel true peace with all of us sons with him once again.

“Well, I’d better get Buck saddled. I’ve got a cattlemen’s association meeting this afternoon.  I’ll see you boys at supper.”

“Bye, Pa” they called in unison.

Hoss and Joe busied themselves with chores until Ben was gone. Hoss went out to chop wood and Joe went to look for a hammer to repair the henhouse roof.

As the sound of Buck’s hooves faded Hoss and Joe both returned to the house from different directions.  Without a word they moved to the desk and stood looking both separately and yet together at the boomerang laying there inanimately. Their eyes met a moment.

Somewhere in the far distance a dog barked.

“Land, ho!” cried the ship’s lookout from high above.

Adam moved to the ship’s rail and looked out to the west where the sun was beginning to set. He could just make out the landmass of Madagascar in the distance.  A crewman stopped nearby.

“Well, Mr Cartwright, looks like we’ll be anchored in Toamasina by nightfall. Will you be staying in Madagascar or will you be pushing on to Africa?”

“I’ll be visiting Madagascar for a while but I am on my way to Africa. I’ve got no deadlines to meet though so I can suit myself when I leave.”

The crewman smiled.

“You’re a lucky man, Mr Cartwright. The whole world to explore at your leisure and only the ends of the earth herself to limit you. Good luck to you.”

The crewman shook his hand before moving to his duties.

“Thank you,” said Adam.

‘He’s right,’ thought Adam. ‘I’m free to go and explore wherever I like for as long as I like. The whole world is at my feet.’

Adam felt the spirit of adventure rising in him once again as he pushed aside his homesickness. He knew that when he did return home it would be for good and therefore he had to see as much as he could and do as much as he could before settling down.  It was still his plan to find his fortune, whatever it was and to return home successful and prosperous. He needed to prove that he could make his own way in the world and succeed at his own dream.  He needed to prove it as much to himself as to his father.

Thoughts of Africa and then Europe tantalized him.  If nothing else these travels were great fodder for his writing.  The more he saw of the world the better. At times like these he felt like he had actually managed to physically climb into one of the books that had inspired him to these adventures. He felt like he was a character in “Five Weeks in a Balloon” or “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” two of his favourite recent novels from the French author Jules Verne.

Adam stood at the rail and watched a vivid sunset as his ship sailed into the Madagascan port of Toamasina.  His spirits and optimism were high as he wondered what adventures still awaited him.

As Ben Cartwright rode out towards Virginia City that afternoon a thought occurred to him.  He wanted to get those pictures of Adam put in frames as soon as possible so that he could put them on his desk.  This might be his last trip to Virginia City for about a week. He needed to have the photographs with him or to have measured their exact size to get the right frames.

Ben turned Buck and rode him home to the Ponderosa swiftly. There was still time and he was grateful that he had thought of it before he had got too far from home.  As Ben alighted from his horse he scowled at the woodpile where one of his sons had discarded the axe halfway through cutting up a log.

The house was quiet as Ben moved in towards his desk to get the photographs. He was thinking that he should put them carefully in his document case to protect them on the journey to town.  As he reached the desk there was an almighty crash as one of the south windows shattered. Ben only just had time to duck as a flying boomerang entered the great room, flew directly at where his head had just been before shattering the front window and disappearing.

From his undignified position on the floor Ben heard the following conversation getting gradually closer and closer.

“You threw it too hard, Joe.”

“Me?  You’re the one who told me to put my back into it! Now look what you’ve done!”

“What I’ve done?  What I’ve done?”

“Look, let’s not discuss it now. There isn’t time.  Pa will be back by supper and we’ve got to get this mess cleaned up and come up with some sort of reasonable story about how the windows got broken.  Hey, it sure did fly though. Did you see how it just took off, wasn’t that something?  I think I know what I did wrong though so next time I’ll be much better. I think I threw it pretty well, it didn’t return to my hand though. You think that was because it hit the window and that knocked it off its return?”

“Joe, where did it actually end up? Did you see where it landed?”

“Yeah, I think it went down the well but don’t worry you’ve got plenty of time to go down and get it out of there before Pa gets home.”

“Me?  Me? Why should I go down and get it when you’re the one that  threw……”

Hoss stopped speaking suddenly when he and Joe entered the house and saw their father sitting on the floor next to his desk.  His face was a mask of ambivalence.

Hoss and Joe looked at each other a moment in panic.  Eight to ten years ago in a situation like this Joe would have run off but he was an adult now and he knew that wouldn’t go down well. They looked at Ben in fear knowing that this was the calm before the volcano.

Joe tried one last ditch effort.

“Oh my goodness, Pa.  Are you all right?  We heard the noise and came running.  What happened? Was it bandits?”

Joe snapped his fingers as if he’d just had an epiphany.

“I bet they were after that valuable boomerang.  Look, it’s gone. I was right!  Hoss, we better get after them, we might still be able to catch them red-handed with the boomerang.  Don’t worry we’ll get it back for you, Pa.”

Hoss just stood there looking sheepish knowing this didn’t have a hope in hell of working.

Ben Cartwright slowly and calmly rose to his feet. Joe stepped forward.

“Here let me help you, Pa.”

“Don’t touch me!” replied Ben icily.  “I wouldn’t want to be accidentally flung through any windows and then LOST DOWN A WELL!!!!!!!!”

Hoss and Joe cowered as Ben hit top volume.

“Now, you two, I just can’t believe that sons of mine…..I mean ten year old boys would have better sense…..and to come up with that ridiculous story…Just get out of my sight.  I’ll deal with you two later.”

Thankful of the redemption Hoss and Joe scurried out.

“Sorry, Pa,” mumbled Hoss.

“Sorry, Pa!  Sorry, Pa” repeated Ben angrily.

Ben sat on his desk and raised his eyes to the heavens in frustration.

“Whatever did I do to deserve such sons?”

The picture of Adam with Wattle caught his eye and Ben picked up the photograph of his handsome, charming and clever son.

“Adam, those brothers of yours are going to drive me insane!  Please be on the next boat home. I’m tired of being the only grown-up around here.”

Ben closed his eyes and counted to ten as he heard a deep splash outside.  With great control Ben Cartwright stood, placed the two photographs carefully in his document case, put in under his arm and walked out.  Seeing Joe with a rope wrapped around his middle bracing himself against the brickwork of the well and straining to keep from being dragged in by the taunt rope that went down into the well didn’t cause him to change expression nor did the splashing and yelling from Hoss below.

Ben mounted Buck and rode off to town.

“Bye, Pa, you be back for supper?” asked Joe with some difficulty as he held the strain of the rope.

“No, I won’t be back for supper,” replied Ben casually.

“Why, where you going, Pa?”

“Africa. Please forward my mail. Come on, Buck, we’ve got a long journey ahead of us if we want to catch up with Adam.  Giddiup!”

A very wet Hoss crawled up onto the lip of the well.  He pulled the boomerang from his belt.

“Oh good, you found it.  Now let me show you what I did wrong when I threw it last time. It’ll come back for sure this time,” said Joe.

Joe wasn’t sure exactly what happened but he did discover that when someone threw him in an arc through the air that he didn’t return to the point where he started.