Michelle Kaufman let out a long sigh as she watched her cousin Betty steer the buggy away from the house to take Adam Cartwright to the train in Stockton. Michelle squared her shoulders. This was not going to go well.
The day before....
The sweet fragrance of brown sugar and cinnamon wafted enticingly through the Barkley house letting Adam Cartwright know the whereabouts of his still favorite author. He entered the kitchen to find her removing sticky buns from the oven to serve for brunch when the family returned from church.
"I think perhaps your next writing endeavor should be a *cookbook. " Adam inhaled the aroma appreciatively.
"I'll take that into consideration." Michelle smiled as she turned the rolls out onto a board to cool, revealing pecans and goo. Adam reached for one. Michelle playfully slapped his hand. "You're just going to have to wait," she informed him.
Adam laughed. "Fine. I'll just waste away into nothing," he said with mock melodramatics. Then his demeanor changed. "Actually, I came in here tell you something."
"Sounds serious."
Adam ran his finger along the edge of the counter. "It is." There was a pause. "I'm going to ask Betty to marry me."
"Adam!"
"What!" he said startled by her reaction.
"That's wonderful! When?"
"Before the rest of your family gets home."
"Well, I'd get a move on it then."
"Yeah." He turned to leave, then spun on his heel. "You are okay with this, aren't you?"
Michelle just smiled and nodded.
Half the valley must've heard when Betty enthusiastically answered Adam's proposal with a resounding "YES!" That half did not include the Barkley family that was on their way home from Sunday services.
Victoria and Audra had just returned to Stockton the day before from a long visit with relatives and friends in Denver so, of course, they would not have known what was happening right under the ignorant noses of Jarrod and Nick. Adam had been coming to town to court.... Betty Kaufman.
Heath had noticed the situation some time before and immediately approached Michelle who confirmed that indeed this was the case. "But for peace sake don't say anything." she warned her blonde cousin. It had been difficult enough to explain why she herself had decided she did not want to get married. Jarrod and Nick made the false assumption that Adam's recurring presence at the ranch was his attempt to change Michelle's mind.
But Michelle's mind had been made up. She and Adam were still quite good friends, however they had made a very common mistake, assuming that the love they felt for each other must be romantic. They were only lucky that they had discovered the truth in time.
Betty insisted that the family not be told until Adam was well out of shooting range, leaving Michelle to do the deed while Betty escorted Adam to the train the next day. Nobody felt it odd that it was her who was making the trip with him and Nick was only too glad to have Betty out of his hair for a few hours.
Present
Yes, this was not going to go well at all.
Bravely, Michelle entered the house. In the dining room the family was finishing their coffee and talking about the day ahead. Michelle stood in the doorway. Putting on a big smile she announced, "I have good news."
The family looked up.
"It's about Betty."
"I thought you said it was good news," Nick griped.
Michelle ignored Nick's remark and continued with unwavering courage. "She and Adam are getting married." She exhaled, waiting for the repercussions to begin.
Jarrod's jaw dropped. A slow smile spread across Heath's face. A very pleased look crossed Victoria's as she stood, saying, "How wonderful. We get to have a wedding after all."
Audra's eyes twinkled as she added, "And now Michelle can stay here forever." Then she and Victoria exited the room excitedly talking about starting the guest list.
Nick who had been silently seething finally spoke. "I knew it," he growled. "I knew it." He stood with a feeling of self-righteous triumph. "I knew something was up at Gene's party. But would you two listen.... No!" He started from the room.
Heath jumped up immediately and took hold of Nick's arm. "Where do you think your going."
Nick put a finger in Heath's face. "To show that Cartwright and that whale of a cousin that they can't do this to Michelle and get away with it." He pulled from Heath's grasp and stalked from the room.
Heath looked to Michelle. "Don't worry. I won't let him hurt anybody." He followed Nick.
Michelle looked to Jarrod who was still sitting quietly at the table pondering his unfinished coffee. Shrugging, and taking his silence as acceptance Michelle retreated from the room. She made her way upstairs to her room where she sat in her rocker and took up her sewing. She was just about to fasten a button when Jarrod entered.
"Okay, just what, pray tell, do you think you're doing?"
Michelle glanced up at her cousin. "I promised Audra I'd finish this..."
"You know what I mean."
"No, Jarrod. What do you mean?"
Jarrod let out an exasperated breath. She had to know what he meant. "Why do you have to be so noble?"
Michelle set the sewing project in her lap. "About what exactly am I being so noble?"
Without answering Jarrod continued. "Of course, this is a bit much even for you. Just giving Adam to Betty to make her happy.."
Michelle's eyes went wide with her cousin's comment and she set aside the garment and stood. She eyed Jarrod as she approached. "If that's the case what exactly is it that Adam is doing then?"
"Well..." He thought fast. "He's going along with it to make you happy."
Michelle rolled her eyes. "To make me happy. Jarrod, that is the most ridiculous thing..." She had to stop and reflect on the total absurdity of the conversation.
"I don't think it's ridiculous at all," the lawyer informed her with a courtroom type determination. "You've always given Betty things of yours to make her feel better... even at the expense of your happiness."
Michelle folded her arms. "Like what?"
Jarrod hemmed a moment, then with hands on hips said, "Like Cappy."
"Cappy?!"
"Yes, you remember Cappy." Cappy was a little orange tabby kitten that had a pure white circle on top of its head, making him look like he was wearing a cap. Betty had fallen in love with the little guy and Michelle had said, "He's yours." It had been that simple.
"Jarrod, for crying out loud, that happened when I was eleven." Her voice was starting to take on an edge.
Jarrod pinned her with a sharp gaze. "And you've deferred to her ever since."
"Good grief, cousin, do you really believe that?"
Jarrod straightened. "Yes."
Michelle took a stance of which Victoria herself would have been proud.
"No," Jarrod relented, unhappy to find defeat on the one issue. "But how can you just stand there and take this?"
Michelle finally raised her voice, but just slightly. "Take what, for goodness sake?"
Jarrod raised his voice to match hers. "That the man to whom you were engaged is marrying someone else.... your cousin, no less."
"The man to whom I broke the engagement," she reminded him, just a bit louder.
"But to your cousin..." he repeated upping the volume ante.
"They're not entitled to be happy," she countered even louder yet.
Jarrod took his voice a level usually only produced by Nick. "I just want you to be happy!"
"I AM HAPPY, DAMN IT!" Michelle's volume startled even her and left a stunned silence in the room. The quiet hung in the air for a few seconds. Michelle took two steps closer to her cousin. "I am happy," she assured him at a more normal decibel for her.
Jarrod's eyes filled. He knew she spoke the truth. Now all he felt was shame. "I'm sorry," he said, running his hand down her arm. "I just..."
"Look, I told you before that I didn't want to get married. Months ago Adam and I had a long talk. It just wasn't what our relationship was meant to be. I tried to tell you." Jarrod nodded. Sometimes he could be just as bullheaded as Nick. He hadn't wanted to admit that it was over between Adam and Michelle. Adam had been courting Betty and he hadn't wanted to see it.
Jarrod placed a hand on the side of Michelle's face. "I love you so much, you know that."
Michelle chuckled. "I know. If I didn't know do you think I'd put up with some of the fool things you do."
Jarrod laughed. He placed a careful kiss above her right eyebrow. "Now that you've managed to penetrate my thick skull what are we going to do about Nick."
In the billiard room Heath had managed to prevent Nick from utilizing every weapon in the gun cabinet. He was gentling him in the same way he had when he had laryngitis, the way he would a horse. Nick was leaning on the mantle, squeezing his hands into fists, clenching his jaw, all but visible smoke coming from his ears.
Heath was still cajoling the man when Jarrod entered. Placing a hand on Heath's shoulder Jarrod spoke. "If you don't mind I'd like a word with our brother."
"Boy Howdy, you're welcome to him," Heath said, glad to be relieved of the task. He stepped aside then turned back to Nick, made a gesture as if he wanted to say something, opted to offer Jarrod a supportive pat on the back and exited the room.
In the kitchen Michelle poured herself a cup of coffee. Usually not a coffee drinker this day called for either caffeine or alcohol... and she flatly refused the latter. She took a sip. Making a face she swallowed
"Been that bad?" Heath's voice startled her. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Just a little jumpy, I guess." She offered her cousin her cup. He shook his head. Michelle set the cup on the counter. "I suppose I should thank you."
"For what?"
"Keeping the secret all this time.... and dealing with Nick."
Heath smirked.
"How'd you keep him from committing two acts of murder, anyway?"
Heath leaned against the counter. "I told him that I loved him too much to see him hang." There was a pause. "You really are happy will all this aren't you?"
"Tremendously. Now let's hope Jarrod can convince Nick."
Heath wrapped an arm around Michelle's shoulder. "If not that you're happy, at least convince him not to do any damage."
"And you fell for that?" Nick acted with angry surprise at Jarrod's explanation as to why he should not send Adam and Betty back to their respective homes in some unrecognizable form.
"I didn't fall for anything. She was telling the truth."
Nick shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you fell for that."
Jarrod sighed. Nick was not to be convinced that one of his best friend's and their cousin had not trampled all over their other cousin's poor heart. Best to just prevent any collateral damage. "Think what you will brother Nick but you are not going to make trouble over this."
"And why shouldn't I?"
"Because it would upset Michelle even more than you already think she is."
"Grumble."
Jarrod reached out to touch Nick's arm. Nick retracted the limb. "Nick," Jarrod pleaded. "For me."
"Oh." Nick made a guttural sound. "All right." His consent was low in his throat. He turned aside sharply and started to leave.
Jarrod's face fell. "Here we go again," he said mostly to himself.
Nick turned back. "What?"
"You're not hating me are you?" Jarrod knew it was difficult for Nick to hold in a strong reaction to anything and he was asking... no, insisting that he do just that. Maybe Nick would resent him over it for a time but hate. God he hoped not.
It was a simple question posed in the briefest moment of insecurity but it caused Nick's features to soften as he turned back to his older brother. Causing well deserved (in his mind) trouble for Betty and Adam was much less important than Jarrod doubting his love. If Jarrod was requesting this of him well, he'd go along with it because of what Jarrod meant to him if for no other reason.
Nick placed a hand to the side of Jarrod's face. Jarrod moved his head slightly, brushing a kiss to Nick's palm. "It's okay, Nick, I know better."
Michelle sat back in her rocker finally managing to do the sewing that had been cast aside earlier.
Betty appeared in the doorway. "Well?"
Michelle threw a look to her older cousin. "Thanks a lot!"
The Ponderosa
"I have some news," the eldest Cartwright son announced after he had gotten himself settled back home. He waited until he had the attention of his father and brothers. "I'm getting married....."
Smiles made their way across the faces of his family as each member assumed that all Adam's trips to Stockton to change Michelle's mind about a wedding had paid off.
"To Betty," Adam continued almost hesitantly. He glanced about the room waiting for whatever to hit.
The silence was broken by Hoss who being so bighearted had to know, "Adam, you didn't hurt that other little gal didya?"
"Of course not! You remember she didn't want to...."
Adam's explanation was interrupted by Hoss jumping up from the settee, "Well, then, Hot diggity!" He grabbed his brother in a bear hug and lifted him off the floor. He set him down but continued grinning almost stupidly.
Little Joe was not so pleased at the prospect. He looked Adam square in the eye. "You're marrying that fat tub of lard?" Then exploding he added. "How can you do this to me?" Before any response could be given he took off up the stairs, to his room, slamming the door.
Hoss' grin faded. He dropped a hand on Adam's shoulder and squeezing he said, 'Don't fret none about Little Joe. I'll take care of him." With that he ascended the steps.
Adam turned to his father who was standing, his eyes disbelieving, his mouth at the ready to speak but nothing coming out. "Pa," Adam beseeched. "Say something."
Somehow Ben Cartwright found his voice. "Son... " He paused as his future with Betty Kaufman as his daughter-in-law flashed before his eyes. "Are you... " He gulped. "Sure this is what you want.... really?"
Adam spoke quietly. "Yes, Pa, it is."
"Leave me alone, Hoss. I don't want to talk about it." Little Joe was determined to have a full blown tantrum, even though he was well in his twenties.
"Joe, let me ask you just one thing."
Joe turned to face him.
"Joe, do you think I'm a fat tub of lard?"
The young man froze. He hadn't given any thought to what Hoss might have to say but he was never expecting that: the very thing that would shake his irrationality over Betty to the core. His fire doused he gazed regretfully at his brother. "No," he answered. More ashamed than anything he glanced to the floor.
Hoss reached out and lifted Joe's chin so his brother was looking him in the eye. "Well, I never thought you did." There was a pause. "Joe, we all like Michelle. And, well, it is a bit of a shock about this whole thing but dad burnit, if it's what makes Adam happy we gotta be happy for him."
Joe nodded. "Hoss, I'm sorry. And I'm going to tell Adam so too."
Shyly, Hoss kissed the top of Joe's head.
"So, we're having the ceremony at the Barkley house," Adam was telling his father when Joe approached.
"Adam?" he implored tentatively.
Adam shifted on the desk where he was sitting.
Words rushed from Joe's mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I want you to be happy. " Tears he had been holding back made their way down his face.
Adam reached out and pulled Little Joe to him. "I know, buddy."
Joe accepted Adam's comfort for a few minutes, then pulled back. "I'll make it up to you. Just tell me what to do."
Adam's hand slid down Joe's arm to clasp his brother's hand. With a squeeze he told him, "I think you just did. I'll take a kiss, though."
Joe touched his lips to Adam's cheek as Adam was saying, "And I expect the three of you to act as best men."
Joe straightened all of the sudden thinking about attending the impending ceremony. "Hey, ya think Michelle will dance with me?"
Adam's eyes went to Hoss then his father then finally to Joe and he said very seriously, "No."
*Michelle currently has two dessert recipe books available, "The Great Schmoogle Dessert Book" and "Eureka! I Found Them: The No Longer Lost Dessert Recipes." Either may be purchased through your favorite on line book seller by searching the titles. ...