Adam awoke to find himself being rocked in his brother Joe's arms just as he had done years ago for him when Joe had had nightmares. Adam was shaking and Joe was uttering some words of reassurance.
"This is the fifth time this week," he heard his brother Hoss say.
Joe rubbed Adam's back. "Same dream?"
Adam nodded.
Joe leaned Adam back to the pillow. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Adam shook his head.
"It might help," Joe said.
Adam forced a smile for his brothers' benefit. "I'll be fine. You two go back to bed."
Neither Joe nor Hoss was convinced but they shrugged to each other. Joe rose from the bed and gave Adam a kiss on the cheek. "If you change your mind..."
Adam placed his hand on Joe's. "I know where to find you."
Hoss kissed Adam's forehead. "You rest easy now, ya hear."
"Should we have Pa come home?" Hoss asked once they were outside the door.
"No sense in worrying him. I'll send for Michelle in the morning."
"Think that will help?"
Joe touched Hoss' arm "If anyone can get him to talk about it she will."
Two days and another nightmare later Michelle returned to the Ponderosa, her cousin Jarrod accompanying her.
Michelle was enthusiastically greeted by Little Joe who recapped to her that Adam was having nightmares involving her untimely demise. But that was as far as he would talk about it.
"I think Jarrod should talk to him," Michelle said. "If these dreams are about me I just might upset the situation more. Or he'll try to play it brave."
Joe directed Jarrod to Adam's room. Jarrod found Hoss with him trying to convince him to eat.
Adam looked up surprised to see his friend enter. "Jarrod, what on earth are you doing here?"
"I heard that my friend needed some help," he said matter-of-factly.
Hoss excused himself saying, "I'll leave you two to talk." To Adam he added, "Listen to him."
Jarrod sat on the edge of the bed. "So what's this I hear about you having nightmares?" He was never one to beat around the bush.
"What? Did Joe send for you?"
Jarrod raised his eyebrows. "Actually, he sent for Michelle." Adam's eyes went wide. "She's downstairs."
Adam folded his arms. "Look, I'm sorry you wasted your time coming here. But I don't need to talk about it. I already know why I'm having these dreams."
Jarrod mirrored his friend's stance. "Well, suppose you tell me. Then I can tell your brothers we discussed it."
"Jarrod, I don't need..."
Jarrod placed a hand on his shoulder. "They're worried about you, my friend."
"I suppose." Adam looked up to the ceiling then back to Jarrod. "You know my father lost three wives. I guess I'm worried about Michelle dying."
"Beth was killed after only a week," Jarrod reminded him. "And I would..."
Adam grew annoyed. "Thanks. That really makes me feel better. You're a big help, Jarrod."
"I'm sorry," Jarrod relented. "I only meant that..."
"You know how I feel," Adam interrupted. "No. It's like a curse around here. Anytime any one of us falls in love, I mean really falls in love something happens." Adam sighed. "I may have to give her up for her own protection."
"Michelle isn't going to die yet. She's too strong-willed."
"So were my mothers."
Jarrod shrugged. "Adam, how DID they die?"
"Huh?"
"Your mothers. How did they die?"
Adam gave Jarrod a look. "You already know. My mother died after giving birth, she was ill. Inger was killed in an Indian attack and Marie fell from a horse."
"Hmm, sounds like things that could happen to anyone. Even you." Jarrod was serious. "Maybe I should have her give you up because you might die. 'Michelle, forget being in love with Adam. He's mortal.'"
Adam's mood seemed to lighten out of the blue. "She's in love with me. Did she say that?" he asked sounding like a school boy.
Jarrod chuckled at his friend's sudden recovery. "Well, she hasn't come right out and said it. But all the signs are there. And when two people are in love they assume the risks. Something tragic could happen. Then again you could live to celebrate your golden anniversary."
"She's in love with me too," he repeated quietly.
Jarrod realized that this conversation was over. "She's downstairs," he told him again.
"Thanks, Jarrod. Oh, about snapping at you before..."
Jarrod held up his hand. "You're forgiven."
Adam rose. He hugged Jarrod quickly before leaving the room.
In the dining room Michelle sat with Hoss and Joe. The talk revolving around their concern for their brother.
"I hope he doesn't do anything dumb like stop seeing you," Joe was saying.
"Not for all the gold in the Nevada Territory," Adam said as he approached. He took Michelle by the hand. "Come talk with me." He led her to the desk.
"That was the dang fastest recovery I ever seen," Hoss said to Joe.
"Love will do that," Joe whispered back.
"Did you and Jarrod have a nice talk?"
"Very informative." Adam sat in Ben's big chair and pulled Michelle into his lap. "Maybe those dreams were more about my fear of losing you in general. I mean you have avoided relationships."
Michelle looked into Adam's eyes. "I preferred not to rush into anything. I wanted to be certain. And I didn't wait this many years to find the right person just to let him slip away."
Adam put his lips to hers and kissed her lovingly.
Jarrod had come down the steps and ushered Hoss and Joe into the kitchen with, "They don't need an audience."
Adam ended the kiss. "I love you, Michelle."
"I love you too, Adam."
They kissed again.
The nightmares of Michelle's death passed. But stranger dreams were inside his head. Dreams of a wedding ceremony, building a house, and growing old together.
THE END