Brothers

By Marion

Rating: PG

The Ponderosa and the Cartwrights are not mine (except for Ed and Kate) Thank you to Mr. Dortort for allowing me to play on the Ponderosa for a little while. This story is purely for entertainment and is not intended to infringe on the rights of anyone else involved with Bonanza and Ponderosa.

Thank you to Christine for all her wonderful comments and help. And a big thanks to Nancy, who was both tour guide and midwife. You’re just the best!

[Note to readers: This story takes place while Ben and his family are still in New Orleans. Marie and Ben have been married for a couple of months. Annie’s parents, Kate and Ed, have been married for several months. Neither Joe nor Annie are in this story. Ben and Ed’s great-uncle John (their father’s uncle) is still alive, and living on Cape Cod]

The sun was just beginning to set when the man, tall and dark-haired, stopped at the doorway. He nodded to his companion, a petite woman with dark red hair. "Number 39. This is the address from the letter. Don’t look so nervous. My brother will love you." The woman's only response was to smooth down a few non-existent wrinkles in her dress. He laughed, and lifted the brass knocker. Despite what he had said to the woman, he too was nervous.

A moment later, a boy, no more than nine or ten, answered the door. "Yes?"

The man stared at the boy as though looking at a ghost. Finally he spoke. "Is this the home of Benjamin Cartwright?"

The boy nodded. "Yes sir. I’m his son, Adam. He’s in the garden. I can get him if you want. "

The man broke into a broad grin as he held out a small folding knife. "Thank you, Adam. Would you please tell your father that I’m returning this? I’m sorry I had it so long."

The boy looked at him oddly, but shrugged as he stepped aside and gestured for the man and his companion to come into the house. "You can wait in the parlor while I get my father."

The boy hurried away, looking at the knife, turning it in his hand, as the man watched him go.

"He is the image of his mother." The man’s voice was husky, and he rubbed his hand over his face.

The red-haired woman sat on a rocker, eyes wide as she looked around the comfortable room. It was sparsely furnished; a sofa, the rocker and two armchairs clustered around the fireplace. A small table near the rocker held a basket of embroidery, while the table between the two armchairs held a lamp and a pipe. A sideboard opposite the fireplace held a glass decanter and several delicate glasses. The room was tidy, but the books and toys showed that children lived in the house. The man paced back and forth, pausing only a minute to gaze at the decorations on the mantle.

A moment later they heard a whoop, a slamming door and running feet. Another man, also tall, burst into the entryway, followed by Adam and another, younger boy. A petite woman was behind the boys. The two men embraced for a long while, and then finally stood apart, each with a hand resting lightly on the other’s arm, neither wanting to let go completely of the other.

"Ed, you son of an old sea dog! Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

"Oh, Ben, you'd be in trouble if Father were here, calling him names like that!" Ed released Ben, and looked at him, still grinning, as the two boys giggled at the thought of their father in trouble. Ben gestured for Ed to sit in the chair, but Ed turned toward the rest of the family. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Ben laughed and beckoned his wife to his side. "Marie, I would like you to meet my younger brother, Edward. Ed, this is my wife, Marie, and my sons Adam and Erik."

Ed took Marie's hand and kissed it, earning him a raised eyebrow from his brother and snickers from the boys. "I am delighted to meet you, dear sister. And Adam, the last time I saw you, you were still wearing a dress, and now look at you – almost a man grown!" Adam blushed as his uncle tousled his hair. Ed bent to shake Erik’s hand while the boy giggled. "Erik, I am pleased to meet you at last." Ed straightened, and winked at the boys. "Now, Marie, Benjamin, lads, may I present Mrs. Edward Cartwright?" Ed took the hand of the red-haired lady who had accompanied him. "My wife, Kathleen."

Ben whooped again. "Ed, why didn't you write to me?" Ben held out his hand to shake hers, and then grinned even more as he pulled her close for a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome to the family, Kathleen."

Kathleen laughed. " Please, call me Kate. No one calls me Kathleen. Well, when I was a lass, my da'd call me that if he were angry, and sure, but I’d hide then." She looked at the boys and winked. They both giggled some more.

Marie gestured to the chairs. "Please, have a seat. I shall bring coffee." She looked hesitant. "Unless you’d prefer tea…Kate."

"Coffee would be lovely, thank you." She slipped off her shawl, and handed it to Adam who had hurried forward as his father gestured to him. "Thank you, Adam." She looked at Marie. "May I help you?"

"Mais non, you are my guest." Marie looked at her new sister-in-law thoughtfully. "But, I would enjoy your company in the kitchen. A chance to get to know each other without these noisy men, non?"

"Aye, give the brothers some time to catch up." She glanced at the boys, hovering nearby. "Your sons are quite handsome, Marie." Adam glared at Kathleen, but held his tongue.

Ben waved Ed toward one of the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace, as he settled into the other. The two boys stood behind the sofa, trying to be inconspicuous. Ed smiled – how many times had he and his brothers done the same thing?

"Ed, I can't believe you didn't write me to let me know you were married. Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

"I thought the letter would reach you about the same time we did, so I decided to surprise you." Ed paused, and glanced at his brother, who merely gestured impatiently. "I met Kate in Ireland, and we came back to the States after we married. Our first stop was the Cape, to see Uncle John, and to see if I could get word of you, but he hadn’t had a letter in over a year." Ed scowled at his older brother, who had the grace to look embarrassed. "We stayed more than a month, and even went to Boston to see the Captain. I was surprised to hear that he had had precious few letters from you as well. I was just about to leave the Cape when your letter arrived announcing that you had married and had settled in New Orleans. So, here we are." His unasked question hung in the air between the two brothers and Ben glanced over his shoulder.

"Adam, Erik, you boys have chores."

"But, Pa…"

Ben frowned and he was about to speak when Ed interrupted him. "I’ll be in New Orleans for a while, lads. Don’t worry, I’ll have plenty of time to tell you stories."

Both boys grinned before hurrying from the room. Ed smiled as he watched them go, and then turned back to his brother.

"They’re handsome boys. Adam is the image of his mother. It took my breath to see him."

Ben pursed his lips as he nodded slightly. "He's a lot like her, too. He's inquisitive and he loves books and learning. Smart as a whip." He stood and walked to the small sideboard to pour two glasses of brandy.

"I'll bet he's stubborn with a temper to beat all. The rows you and Elizabeth used to have! I can't picture the two of you combined to one boy." Ed took the brandy that Ben offered. "Thank you. And Erik? He must favor Inger in looks."

"And in personality. He's a good boy, kind, thoughtful for a five year old. Never any trouble, except when his older brother leads him astray."

"That's older brothers for you."

Ben grinned. "I’ll thank you to keep your stories to yourself! Those boys of mine need no encouragement."

Ed swirled the brandy in its glass, studying the amber liquid intently. The sounds of carriages passing on the street drifted through the open window, and Ed became conscious of the noise of a broom, no doubt Adam or Erik sweeping the front walk. Finally he looked up. "You look well."

Ben nodded. "But you want to know about the silence."

Ed shrugged. "They are worried back east. To lose one wife is hard, to lose two…"

Ben leaned back and sighed loudly. "It was bad, Eddie." His voice was quiet, and Ed had to lean forward to hear him. "It was very bad. I had the boys, but for a while I wasn’t sure even they would save me." Ben rubbed his face with his hand. The two men looked up at the sound of the back door closing. "But let’s save that story for another day, all right?" He stood as Marie and Kate entered the room. "Tonight, let’s celebrate our reunion!" He took the tray from Marie and set it on the side table, touching her shoulder lightly before returning to his seat.

Ben settled back in his chair as Marie handed coffee first to Kate and Ed, and then to her husband. She and Kate sat on the sofa. Ben sipped his coffee slowly before turning to his new sister-in-law.

"So tell me, Kate, how did you come to marry this rogue? I thought he’d never wed."

Her spirited laughter filled the room, but it was Ed who answered.

"Well, I was on a packet ship bound for Glasgow out of Boston. We shipwrecked near the coast of Ireland, and I managed to get washed up on shore. Kate and her brother Pat found me and brought me home. While I was mending, I lost my heart. I spent almost a year over there – didn't you get my letters?" Ben shook his head. "Ah, well, that's the mail for you."

Ed took a sip of coffee. "Times are getting hard in Ireland and I missed home, so after Kathleen and I were married, I convinced her to come away with me. We came back to the Cape and spent that month with Uncle John. Charlie's keeping the light now."

Ben groaned. "It's a good thing he can't gamble that away! How's Uncle John doing?"

"For a man in his ninth decade, he's doing well. Losing Aunt May was a tough blow for him, I think. I spent a lot of time talking with him, saying good-bye I suppose, for I’ll not see him in this world again. He said his ship would soon set sail for the distant shore, but that we shouldn't be sad. His was a long and happy life."

The two men sat quietly for a minute as Ed’s thoughts drifted back to their imposing great-uncle, as dear as any grandfather could be. Finally Marie broke the silence.

"Benjamin, Kathleen has told me they have arranged the lodging in a hotel near here. I told her I would not hear of such a thing, that they must stay with us, but she says they do not wish to impose."

Ben shook his head. "It’s no imposition. We have a guest room. It’s small, but comfortable."

Ed thought a minute. He would rather be with his brother, for it had been seven years since they had seen each other last, and he would relish the opportunity to get to know his new sister-in-law and his nephews. And, he had to admit, he would be able to stay in New Orleans longer if he did not have to pay for the hotel. "Well…"

Ben waved his hand. "It’s settled. We’ll go collect your luggage in a bit. Now, have you eaten supper?"

Kate nodded. "Aye, in the hotel. Sure and we didn’t want to barge in unexpected and hungry."

A short while later, Ben, Ed and Adam walked toward the hotel. Erik had been left sulking at home. He had insisted on going with the men, and when he persisted in arguing with his father, Ben had placed the boy in a chair and had warned him that his attitude had better improve, or else. Ed had watched the scene with amusement.

Ed walked beside Ben, who was pushing a small handcart. "Well, brother, I never thought I’d say this, but you sounded like Father back there, when you were talking with Erik."

Ben grinned. "I suppose I did, a bit. There are times when I hear myself say things and I look around half-expecting to see him." He glanced over his shoulder to look at Adam. "I wish Father had had a chance to know my boys."

"Well, I know another grandfather that lives for that boy’s letters." Ed jerked his head toward Adam.

"How is Abel? You said you saw him?"

Adam skipped forward. "You know my Grandfather Stoddard?" His eyes were wide.

Ed bent down and grabbed Adam, settling the boy on his shoulders. "I do. I sailed with him, just as your father did. And there’s not a better captain on the ocean."

"Which?" The boy rested his hands on top of his uncle’s head and peered down.

"Which what?" Ed tried to twist his head around so he could see his nephew.

"Which ocean?" The boy waited and then repeated patiently. "On which ocean is my grandfather the best captain?"

Ed glanced at his brother, who merely smiled. "Well, let’s see. I’ve sailed with him on the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian…no, that was a different captain." Ed looked back up at the boy. "I guess I would just say he’s the finest captain on every ocean."

Adam sat straight and smiled smugly.

"As I was telling your father, the Captain treasures your letters, Adam." Ed gripped Adam’s hand as the boy started to slip, relaxing only when he was sure his nephew wouldn’t fall. "Ben, the Captain is well. He’s sent a few things for you and for Adam. I have them in my trunk. The chandlery is prospering, and he’s considering opening a second one. He tried to get me to stay, to run it for him."

"Why didn’t you?"

Ed hesitated. "Massachusetts has too many ghosts. It’s not the same, without you and John. It’s not home anymore."

They reached the hotel, and the clerk gave Ed a perplexed look when he checked out before even spending one night. Ed and Ben loaded the trunks onto the handcart, and Ed and Adam each carried a carpetbag while Ben pushed the cart.

"I don’t know how I got stuck with the heavy work." Ben looked at his son. "You know, Adam, this is what younger brothers do to you. They always get the easy jobs. You remember that, when Erik is older."

That night Ed and Kate were getting ready for bed. Ed was brushing Kate’s hair, a habit he had begun on their wedding night. Her hair fell to her waist when she let it down, and the shimmer of it delighted Ed like few sights could.

"And how do you like my brother? I told you he would love you!" Lifting her hair to one side, he bent and kissed the nape of her neck. She shivered with pleasure.

"Aye, you did, and he does. But truth-be-told, it was Marie that worried me. I thought she’d be grand, the lady of the manor, being French and all. But I’ve never met a lovelier woman. It makes me wish to stay in New Orleans, for I think we’d be that close. Like sisters, we’d be, I think."

Ed placed the brush on the dressing table and caressed her shoulders. He smiled as she leaned back against him. "I don’t think Ben expects to stay in New Orleans. He planned to go west, to California, or to Oregon. Those were the intentions before he met Marie, anyway." He ran his fingers through her hair. "It would be nice to settle near him, though." He bent down to nibble her ear. "But enough talking about my brother…"

Ed spent the next morning playing with his nephews. When Adam asked if they could take Uncle Ed exploring New Orleans, Ed pleaded exhaustion from his long trip. Instead, he stayed home and played pirates, knights and any other game that Adam’s imagination could dream up. Truly that boy was his mother’s son. Ed smiled as he thought back to the times Lizzie and the Cartwright boys had spent acting out some story or another that she had read the night before. Even John had gone along with Liz’s schemes, for a time, until he had grown too old and only wanted to sail. Ed wondered if Ben had ever told Adam about those times, and Ed vowed to find some quiet moments to tell the boy of the mother he would never know.

They played the games of Erik’s choosing just before lunch. Jackstraws, ring toss, jacks and marbles took most of the time. Ed wanted to teach the boys mumblety-peg, a game he and his brothers played, but Marie did not seem to care for the idea of Erik throwing a knife. He wondered if Ben had taught the boys to play bandy yet, but decided the courtyard was not the best place for such a rough game. Then again, Ben might prefer that his boys not know how to play a game that had gotten their father and uncles in trouble so many times at recess when they were in school.

Marie insisted that the boys do their school lessons in the afternoon. Adam argued with Marie about the lessons, saying they should be suspended because of Uncle Ed’s visit. Ed was so surprised to hear Adam speak back to Marie that he almost admonished the boy, but decided that it was not his place to take Adam to task.

When Ed announced that he was exhausted from playing and that he would take a nap, Kate pursed her lips, as though she was biting back a comment. Marie smiled.

"Edward, I think perhaps Kate and I will go to the market while you sleep. Adam will need to carry our packages. Erik has some chores to do for Benjamin."

When Ed awoke, the house was quiet. Looking around, he realized he was home alone, and decided that Erik must have accompanied Marie and Kate to the market. He decided it was time to make himself useful, and he headed outside to chop some wood. Judging by the church bell’s chimes, Ed had been working for a half hour when he looked up, only to flinch as he saw his brother frowning at him.

"Glory, Ben, you startled me!"

Ben gestured angrily to the woodpile. "That’s Adam’s job."

Ed waved his free hand. "The lad’s not shirking his work, brother. Before I took my nap, Marie mentioned that she and Kate were going to the market and that Adam would accompany them, that he might carry their purchases. She said they would be back for supper. I merely wished to be busy."

Ben nodded, but his smile was quickly replaced by another frown. "Did Erik go with them?"

Ed shrugged. "I was asleep when they left, so I assume he did. Is something wrong?"

Ben pointed to the mess of sticks near the woodpile. "I asked Marie to tell Erik to clean that pile of kindling, and to be sure there was sufficient supply in the kitchen." He bent down and picked up some of the split wood. "I’m sure Marie took him with her." He stacked the wood on the pile and returned for more. "I’ll help you finish. We haven’t done this together since we were boys."

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Ben asked if Marie had left something for supper.

Ed grinned. "I think we’re having chowdah!" Chowder was his favorite meal, and Ed was looking forward to trying Marie’s.

Ben looked puzzled. "Did Marie say that?"

"I forget what she called it, but she said it was like a fish soup. That’s chowdah!"

Ben’s laugh echoed around the courtyard. "Did she say we’re having gumbo?"

Ed nodded. "Yes, I think that’s what she called it."

Ben’s hearty slap on the back almost knocked his brother down. "Eddie, gumbo is about as far from Aunt May’s clam chowder as you can get!"

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Marie and Kate, with Adam in tow. Ed snickered as he saw Adam’s face drain of color, and the boy almost dropped his packages in his haste to speak to his father.

"Pa, I didn’t…I mean, I had to go…I was going to finish…."

Ed nudged his brother. "Tell the boy to breathe, Ben."

Ben hurried over to take Marie’s packages as Ed took Kate’s. "I know you weren’t shirking your chores, Adam. Uncle Ed needed something to do, and I decided to help." Ben looked behind his son. "Is Erik with you?"

Marie glanced about the courtyard. "Mais non. Edward was home, and I told Erik he must do the kindling as you say." Marie bit her lower lip in concern. "Oh, Ben, you do not think something happened, do you?"

Her husband shook his head. "The only thing that I think happened was a small boy decided to disobey his mother. Let’s bring these packages inside, and then Ed and I will go find him."

The brothers found Erik at a friend’s house, four doors up. The boy’s eyes widened when he saw his father and after a quick word to his friend, he hurried to Ben and Ed.

"Hey, Pa, hey, Uncle Ed." The five year old stood with his hands behind his back. Ed was amused to see the boy in such a familiar stance, although whether Erik was being respectful or protecting his tail, Ed did not know.

Ben bent at the waist to look at his errant son. "What are you doing, Erik?"

"Playin’, Pa." Erik was looking anywhere but at his father.

"Why did you not pick up the kindling like your mother told you to do?" Ben guided the boy’s chin so that he had to look at his father.

Erik’s eyes glanced to the left. "Mama didn’t say to do nothin’. She said I could come play."

Ed winced at the falsehood, and looked to see if his brother’s reaction would match what their father’s reaction would have been.

Ben let go of the boy’s chin, and stood straight, crossing his arms. "Mama told me that she did tell you about your chores. Are you telling me that Mama is a liar?"

Erik bit his lip, and the expression on his face reminded Ed of a fish out of the water, gasping for air. Ben grabbed the boy’s arm and led him back home, a bemused Ed following behind. Ben’s reaction was very much like Father’s!

When they reached the Cartwright’s courtyard, Ben turned to his brother. "Ed, would you please let Marie know we found Erik? He and I have a few things to discuss in private."

Ed was sure they did, and he nodded as Erik’s eyes filled with tears. He turned and headed toward the kitchen.

If he lived in New Orleans for the rest of his life, Ed didn’t think he would get used to a kitchen that was not part of the house. He could see it made sense as a safety precaution, and if Ben was right about the summer weather, it would be better for it to not heat up the main house, but it just didn’t seem right. He couldn’t imagine having to go outside during some of the gales they had had when he was a boy.

Adam was sitting on a stool by the worktable watching Marie and Kate chop vegetables. All three turned toward Ed when he entered the room. He raised his hand in assurance.

"We found him up the street, playing with a friend. He and Ben are having a private discussion." Ed nodded as Adam shook his head.

Marie sighed in relief. "He is unharmed?" She hushed Adam when the boy muttered something about not being unharmed when Pa got done. "Surely Benjamin would not spank him for playing?"

Ed rolled his eyes. "Maybe not for playing, but when Ben and I were boys, lying and disobeying were the fastest way to not sitting comfortably." He noticed Adam wincing and guessed the boy had learned those same lessons. "Erik told Ben that you had not asked him to do any chores and that you gave permission for him to play."

Marie’s lips thinned to a straight line and she shook her head. "I do not understand why a boy must tell the lie when he knows he will be caught."

Ed’s laugh echoed in the kitchen. "A boy lies because he is convinced that his father will not learn the truth!" Adam looked at his uncle, mouth open wide. "Am I not right, Adam?" He laughed again when Adam remained silent. "I know three boys who were convinced of that, not so many years ago."

Kate laughed softly. "I’m not so sure that little boys are the only ones who think that, Eddie, my love." She looked at Marie, who smiled slightly and shrugged.

Ed hurried around the table to stand behind his wife. He wrapped his arms about her waist and kissed her on the neck, not stopping when she tried to bat him with her dishtowel. "And did you tell lies, my love?" Ed winked at his nephew who was grinning at the adult admissions of childhood mischief.

Kate twisted out of Ed’s arms and slapped his hands away. "I did. And paid the price when my da found out. Or worse, my mam."

Ed leaned across the table and snatched a peach from the bowl by Adam’s side. "And your father, Adam, does he tolerate lying?"

Adam shook his head so hard that he almost fell off the stool. "No sir!"

Ed bit into the peach. "Pity he took so long to learn that lesson." He licked the juice from his fingers as he winked again at his nephew. Ed thought he’d better stop talking, or he’d be telling more stories about Ben’s youth tonight.

Everyone hushed when the door opened and Ben stood holding a teary-eyed Erik by the shoulder. "Marie, may we see you for a moment?"

No one spoke until the door closed behind Marie. Adam turned back to his aunt and uncle and sighed. "Now Pa’s making Erik apologize."

Kate kept looking at the vegetables she was cutting. "Sure, and it sounds like you’ve been in your brother’s shoes, lad."

Adam blushed furiously and he mumbled "yes, ma’am" before turning to his uncle. "Uncle Ed, did my pa lie when he was a boy?"

Ed winced; Ben was going to have his hide for this one! "Yes, Adam, he did." Ed thought a minute. "But he was an awful liar, and so was I. I can’t think of a single time when we actually got away with our falsehoods. And nothing, but nothing, made our father – and mother – angrier than lying. Father was adamant that dishonesty was intolerable. ‘A man is only as good as his word,’ Father would say, ‘and if his word is no good, he is no good.’ And now that I am a man, Adam, I know that my father was right."

Adam’s response was cut off by Marie’s return to the kitchen.

"Adam, your father wishes you to do your chores." Marie ignored the scowl that Adam gave her as he slipped off the stool, but Ed did not. He grabbed the boy by the arm.

"Adam, your mother spoke to you. It is disrespectful to not answer her." Ed looked down at his nephew, who glared back at him. Ed fought the urge to shake the boy, and merely tightened his grip until Adam finally nodded and looked at Marie.

"I’m sorry, ma’am, I meant no disrespect. I’ll go help Pa now." Marie nodded and Ed let go of the boy’s arm. Adam ran from the room.

Marie sighed and Ed shook his head. "Marie, does Ben know the boy behaves this way when Ben is not with you?"

Marie waved her hand. "It is nothing. Adam needs only to become used to me. Already things are better than they were." Ed’s jaw clenched, and he was about to speak but Marie continued. "Please do not mention this to Ben."

Ed started to speak again, but Kate shook her head, silently warning him to mind his business. "All right, Marie, as you wish." He bowed slightly. "I’ll leave you ladies to your work, and I will go help Benjamin with his."

Supper was a lively meal. Ed had seen several members of the Wanderer’s crew when he was in Boston, and regaled his brother with tales of their former shipmates. Of course, half the stories ended with Ben clearing his throat, and glancing meaningfully at his sons.

"Marie, this gumbo is delicious! I’ve never tasted anything like it." Ed held out his bowl so that Marie could refill it.

Marie nodded. "Thank you. Kate helped, though."

Ed was so surprised that he almost dropped his bowl, an action that did not go unnoticed by his wife.

"You’d think I’d never cooked you a decent meal." Kate was indignant.

Ed closed his eyes. There was no easy way out of this. "Katie, my love, you are a wonderful wife, a woman of unsurpassed beauty and intelligence, and the light of my life."

"But…" She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.

Ed glanced desperately at his brother, but Ben showed no signs of wanting to help his brother from his precarious situation. "Well…" He shifted uncomfortably and glanced at his nephews, both of whom were trying to not laugh. He looked to his sister-in-law, who merely regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "Marie, did I mention that the bread is delic…"

"Well, what?" Kate’s short tone brought Ed’s attention back to her.

Ed took a deep breath and gathered his courage. "Katie, you cannot cook. Even your father told me that, as you know."

"When he was in his cups!"

Ed held out his hand to calm her. "And Seamus fed your food to the dogs. You told me so yourself." Ed kicked his brother under the table, and begged Ben silently to save him.

Ben pursed his lips and then grinned. "You know, Marie, Ed thought you were making clam chowder for supper."

"Chow-der? Chow-der?" Ed was incredulous. "Brother, you have been too long from home! There is no ‘r’ in that word! Marie, I thought, when you said you were making a fish soup, that you were making chowdah, but your gumbo is, as Ben told me, as far from chowdah as you can get!"

Marie looked perplexed. "What is this chowda?" She scowled at her husband as he laughed.

"When we were boys, Ben, John and I would go clamming." When Erik wrinkled his nose in confusion, Ed explained. "We would go digging clams and bring them..."

"How?"

Ed was surprised at Adam’s interruption, but shook his head slightly when Ben made to admonish the boy. Ed was amused, for Liz had asked the very same question the first time the boys had told her about clamming.

"Well, usually we would go treading. That meant we’d walk in the water, up to our chests, and feel for the clams with our feet. When we found one, we’d reach down and scoop it up."

Ben leaned forward and refilled Ed’s wine glass. "Once or twice we’d make a mistake and come up with a crab instead. I remember one time your Uncle Ed came up with a crab – I think the claws were bigger than his hand. He was screaming like he was being murdered!" Ben rolled his eyes and winked at Adam.

"The da…that crab almost bit my finger off. And you and John stood there and laughed!"

Ben looked indignant. "We helped you get it off!"

"Only because Uncle John was on the beach wanting to know why I was shouting!" Ed smiled at the memory. His brothers had known that if Uncle John had had to wade in to find out what was wrong with Ed, they would have been in trouble. Sometimes there was an advantage to being youngest. He nodded to Ben. "What about that time the Captain caught us clamming with Lizzie?" Ed faltered, unsure if Marie would like to hear about Ben’s first wife.

"Anyway, Marie, we’d go clamming, and we’d shuck the clams for Aunt May. She made the best chowdah, better than Mother’s. Even Mother said so. She’d mix in some salt pork or bacon, chopped potatoes, some pepper. It wasn’t at all like gumbo, but it was delicious!"

"Perhaps I should make this chowda for you. You will help me, Edward?"

Ed inclined his head. "I would be delighted, Marie."

Ed was concerned the next morning when Kate complained of feeling ill. She shrugged it off and said she would feel better later, it was nothing serious, which was why he didn’t understand the strange look that Marie gave her sister-in-law. He finally put it down to sisterly concern, happy that Kate and Marie had grown close so quickly. Once again, he thought of talking to Ben about moving west together.

Before he had left for work, Ben had given the boys permission to take their Uncle Ed on a tour of New Orleans, or rather, those parts of New Orleans to which they were permitted to travel. When they were alone, Ben had assured Ed that Ed would enjoy the boys’ eye view of the city, and would no doubt see many interesting sights. Ben had promised that he would take his brother around to see the rest of the city.

Marie had gone to the market, and Kate was lying down. Ed had finished shaving and was just buttoning his shirt when he heard the sounds of shouting coming from the courtyard. Alarmed, he hurried out the back door only to find Adam and Erik rolling around in the dirt, trying to land blows on each other.

"Stop that! Adam! Erik!" Ed waded in and pulled first Erik to his feet and then Adam. He held the boys at arms’ length and shook them both. "What the devil is the meaning of this?"

"He started it!" Erik struggled to get at his brother, and for a minute Ed had to remember that Erik was only five. He was a lot stronger than any five-year-old Ed had ever known. Not, thought Ed, that had he known many five year olds.

"Did not! He hit me first!" Adam twisted from Ed’s grasp, and almost reached his brother before Ed could grab him again.

Ed struggled to hold back his temper. He had to remind himself that they were not his boys to punish physically, although had he and his brothers been caught fighting…He shook them again.

"Stop it, both of you!" He let go of them; his glare almost dared them to get into trouble again. "I’ll not have this fighting. What would your father do if he were here?"

Both boys shifted nervously, and neither would meet his eye. "Now, I’ll ask you again. What is the meaning of this behavior?"

Ed towered over the boys, his arms crossed and his expression stern. He struggled to maintain his stern expression as he listened to first Adam and then Erik explain that they had been stacking wood. According to Adam, he was just trying to get the job done in the most efficient manner. But, to hear Erik speak, Adam was grabbing all the big wood so that his pile would get bigger, faster.

"So you decided to hit him, Erik?"

Erik’s eyes were as wide as saucers and he shook his head. "Un-uh."

Ed stood with his balled fists on his belt and said nothing as Erik realized his error.

"I mean, no sir." Erik licked his lips. "I didn’t hit him. Well, I didn’t mean ta. I tried to grab my log back and I accidentally pushed him."

"Adam?"

"Well, maybe it was an accident, but he shouldn’ta grabbed my log."

Ed continued to stare at both boys until they squirmed. "Seeing as you are both so concerned about the wood pile, I think that Adam, you may chop the wood and Erik, you may stack it. I want to see a pile twice this size before lunch."

Erik’s eyes filled with tears, but Adam grew belligerent. "We’re supposed to show you New Orleans!"

"I do not care to be seen about town with such ruffians."

Adam’s anger turned to concern, and he grabbed at his uncle’s sleeve. "But… but, Uncle Ed, if Pa comes back and finds out we didn’t take ya, he’s gonna want to know why."

Ed was sure Ben would want to know that very thing. "Then I suggest you have an answer for him. And you would do well to have that wood chopped and stacked before he comes home for lunch."

Ed settled in the parlor. Ben had lent him a new book of essays by a minister in Concord. Ed vaguely recalled hearing of Emerson when he was in Boston, but he didn’t have much use for men of the cloth, so he had paid it scant heed.

He had not gotten far into his reading when he heard the door open. Looking up, he saw Marie standing in the doorway of the parlor. She was frowning.

"Why are you not on your grand tour, Edward? I cannot believe the boys have suddenly decided we need more wood, as I have been told by Erik."

Ed stood. "I interrupted a bit of a scuffle. I suggested that they would profit more from chopping wood than enjoying the sights."

Marie shook her head. "Benjamin will not be pleased. He does not wish for the brothers to fight." She brightened. "But perhaps you can now show me this chowda?"

"You were able to find clams?"

"Oui!"

Ed looked over his shoulder toward the bedroom. "Kate’s still sleeping. You don’t think anything is seriously wrong, do you?"

Marie smiled cryptically. "Non. Perhaps just a passing thing." She gestured toward the kitchen. "Come and show me the chowda."

They worked together to shuck the clams, and then Marie peeled the potatoes and cooked the bacon while Ed chopped the clams. He carefully poured the water from the clams into the pot, added some cream, the clams and the bacon.

Marie reached for a small bottle but Ed stopped her before she could add anything to the broth.

"What’s that?"

"It is the spice, the file powder."

Ed shook his head emphatically. "No, no, no. Remember that I said chowdah is different from your gumbo? I suspect that’s one reason why! Salt, pepper, some dried thyme, but that’s all."

Marie watched in disbelief as Ed finished adding the ingredients. "Ca tout?"

"Pardon?"

She shook her head. "That is all?"

"That’s it."

When he placed the pot on the stove, Marie poured tea for them and gestured for Ed to sit.

"Edward, I think you regret last night when you mention Adam’s mother, non?"

Ed shifted uncomfortably. "I didn’t know…I mean, I don’t want to upset you."

Marie reached out to touch his hand. "She does not upset me. She existed and I cannot change that. Benjamin loved her greatly, and I cannot change that. But more importantly, I would not change that, for I know that her love made him the man that I love. And their love brought Adam, who is a very special boy to me." She sipped her tea from the delicate blue cup. "Benjamin does not speak much of her, or of Erik’s mother. I think he still grieves inside for them. Edward, promise me you will tell Adam all that you can of her."

Marie had no idea what she was asking Ed to do. Then again, he thought as he looked at her intently, perhaps she did. He nodded. "I will, Marie."

She nodded. "Good. And now I ask you, speak to me of her."

Ed looked at her, mouth agape. She was serious! He nodded, reached out for more tea, and then began. He told Marie about the first day the Cartwright brothers met Liz, and about Ben taking Liz’s punishment. He told her their adventures during the summers on Cape Cod, and then the times they spent in Boston after the Cartwrights moved there. He stumbled when he spoke of his parents’ deaths, and of living with the Stoddards. He couldn’t look at her when he spoke of Ben and Liz’s courtship and marriage, but he could not help smiling when he remembered Liz’s announcement that she was carrying Adam, and the joy on Liz’s face as her confinement drew near. He found himself weeping as he spoke of her death and of Ben’s tremendous grief. Marie sat by him, occasionally touching him to comfort him, or smiling as he recounted a funny story.

"You loved her very much, non?"

Ed glanced up sharply at her words. She was a very perceptive woman. "I did. I won’t lie, Marie, it caused great strife between Ben and me. But I think…no, I know, that I loved my brother more." He ducked his head again. "And she adored him, from the moment they met."

Marie smiled. "This I can understand." She stood and gathered the teacups.

Kate came into the kitchen as Ed stood. "Glory, I’ve slept the morning away. Marie, you’ll think me a lazy wench, to be sure." She sniffed the air. "Ah, Eddie’s been cooking."

Ed looked at her with concern. "Are you all right, Kate?"

She gave him a reassuring pat on the arm. "I’m fine, my love. I think the travel’s catching up to me." She glanced around. "But I thought you were going with the boys."

"It’s a long story. I helped Marie with lunch instead." He studied her closely, still concerned, but she merely pushed him aside.

"Then I’ll bring the dishes into the dining room." She reached to pick up the tray of bowls and cups, but Ed stopped her.

"I’ll bring the dishes." He shook his head when she opened her mouth. "Kathleen…"

"Have it your way, Ed-ward!" She shook her head at Marie, and followed her husband to the house.

After Ed set the tray down, and kissed his wife, he went to check on his nephews. They were both hard at work, although Ed couldn’t help but notice that they would periodically glance past him, toward the gate, as though waiting for their father to come home. Neither of them would look at their uncle as he sat on the bench to supervise their work.

Ed leaned against the wall. He decided that he preferred to be the fun uncle, telling stories and making the boys laugh. Disciplining the boys gave him no pleasure and he wondered how Ben did it. And yet, Uncle John had been the fun uncle of Ed’s youth, but he had not seemed to have a problem disciplining his grandnephews. Ed knew that all too well. And Ed and his brothers had not suffered because of the old man’s discipline. Indeed, Ed realized that it had been oddly comforting to know that Uncle John had also set limits, just as Father had.

Ed closed his eyes, lost once again in memories of his boyhood. Strange that seeing Ben had brought the past to life again. He sat quietly, enjoying the warm April breeze. New Orleans was definitely warmer than Massachusetts! The breeze, coupled with the rhythmic thwack of Adam’s ax, lulled Ed into a drowsy haze.

The sound of the gate opening drew Ed from his reverie, and he opened his eyes just as Ben closed the gate behind him. Ed waved Ben to sit beside him.

"You’re home just in time for lunch."

Ben grinned. "I try to be. How was your tour of New Orleans?"

The moment Ed dreaded was here. "We didn’t go." He winced as his brother sat straight. The sight of Ben’s jaw grinding to the left was so reminiscent of Father that Ed actually looked twice.

"Does your not going have something to do with my sons’ diligence at the wood pile?"

Ed nodded. "It does." He held up his hand to stop Ben’s questioning. "They will explain. Ben, I hope you don’t object that I’ve punished them. I didn’t want to reward them with the outing, and I remember how dreadful it was to wait for Father to come home."

"No, you did the right thing, brother, although I’m sorry they spoiled your morning." Ben looked toward his sons, and both boys resumed their work, having paused to watch their father and uncle.

"Actually, my morning was not spoiled. I spent my time showing Marie how to cook." Ed smiled at his brother’s laughter. "She is a remarkable woman, Ben. You’re lucky to have found her."

Ben nodded. "And so I tell myself, every day." He returned his attention to the boys. "Adam! Erik!" The boys stopped work and hurried to stand in front of their father.

"Uncle Ed tells me that he did not take his tour of New Orleans."

Both boys looked at the dirt. "No, sir."

"I’d like to know why, Adam, and I do not want to hear that it’s a long story."

Ed listened as Adam explained about the fight over the log. He could not look at Ben, for fear that he would laugh, or worse, make his brother laugh.

"And so, Erik, Uncle Ed had to punish you."

Ed looked at Erik as the boy licked his lips nervously. "Yes, sir."

"Ed, have they done as they were told?"

Ed glanced over to the woodpile. It was twice as big as when they started. "They have, and they’ve done it well and without fuss." He looked at his brother.

Ben pointed at each of the boys. "The next time I catch you fighting, or hear of you fighting, or see evidence that you have been fighting, you will regret it. Do you understand?"

Both boys nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir."

Ben waved his hand toward the house. "Go to your room until lunch."

The two men watched the boys scurry away, and as soon as the door closed, they gave into the laughter.

Ed wiped the tears from his eyes. "Ben, it was all I could do to keep from laughing this morning, when I first heard about the log." He took a deep breath. "Do you think Father ever laughed at us when he was alone?"

Ben shrugged. "Probably. We never knew it, though. And we certainly weren’t laughing when he’d finish with us."

"No, no we weren’t." Ed nodded his agreement. "Father was quick with his belt, that’s true."

Ben stood. "I suppose. I realize now that he didn’t resort to that as often as I thought he did. And I understand how important it is to be consistent, and to teach the boys discipline. I’ve seen far too many undisciplined men in my life to think otherwise."

"I suppose you’re right." Ed glanced at Ben. "True-be-told, I’m looking forward to being a father myself someday."

"Trying to tell me something, little brother?"

Ed shook his head. "No, not yet." He grinned slyly. "It’s not for lack of trying, though."

Ben smacked Ed in the arm. "Glory, Eddie, don’t let the wives hear you talking like that!"

The two men turned to go into the house. Ed stopped his brother with a light touch on the arm. "Ben, you need to have another son."

Ben looked at his brother with amusement. "Another son? Why not a daughter."

"Because when I listen to those boys of yours, I hear John and you and me. I have decided that you need another son to complete Father’s revenge!"

Ben raved about the chowder, declaring it almost as good as Aunt May’s. Ed noticed with amusement that the boys said nothing, only ate quietly, unwilling to draw attention to themselves. Kate enjoyed it, but she had eaten it before, so said nothing. Ed found himself waiting for Marie’s judgment. When she said nothing, he finally asked if she liked it.

Marie wrinkled her nose. "It is…" She hesitated. "It is, as you say, very different from the gumbo."

Ed guffawed as his brother shook his head. "You don’t like it, Marie?"

She shrugged. "It needs the spice. You should have allowed me to add the file powder."

Ed tried to hide his amusement. "But then it wouldn’t be chowdah, would it, Marie? It would be clam gumbo." He winked at his brother. "I’m afraid you won’t be having chowdah for suppah after I leave, brother."

Marie became indignant and waved her spoon at Ed. "I shall cook for Benjamin whatever he wishes!"

Kate scowled at her husband. "You’ll stop teasing Marie, Eddie, right now, or I’ll be knowin’ why!"

Ed held up both hands, unable to defend himself against wife and sister-in-law. "I’m only saying…"

"If you’re smart, brother, you’ll not say anything more." Ben dunked another chunk of bread into the chowder. "Ed, I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you. I’m short a hand at the store, and I was hoping I could impose upon you to come to work for a few weeks. I’ll pay you a good wage, of course."

"I’ll work for you, Ben, but I’ll not take your money."

Ben scowled. "Well, you can’t work for nothing."

Ed was not intimidated by his older brother’s look. "I’m not working for nothing, I’m working for my brother. I’ll not take your money."

The argument continued for a minute or so more until Marie rolled her eyes. "Mon dieu, I thought only Benjamin was this stubborn and this full of pride."

Kate shook her head. "I’m afraid it’s a Cartwright fault. I have it on their uncle’s authority that their father was just as bad, and so is their brother, John."

The two brothers turned to her, open-mouthed. Ed spoke first.

"And did our uncle see fit to mention that we learned our stubborn, prideful ways from the patriarch of the Cartwright clan? Uncle John has some nerve calling Ben and me stubborn and prideful! The stories I could tell you!"

Kate looked shocked. "Marie, he’s nothin’ of the sort. He’s a lovely old man, so kind and so quiet. He did much to raise his sons and his nephew, and then helped with his great-nephews, and look at their gratitude."

Ben’s head jerked up sharply. "Ed, I thought you said you introduced Kate to Uncle John."

"I aver I did. But compared to Kate’s father, any man is quiet." Ed realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth, but to his surprise, Kate nodded her head.

"Aye, you may have somethin’ there, my love. Himself was never quiet." Kate smiled wistfully, then rose to help Marie clear the dishes.

Ben glanced at the clock. "C’mon, Ed, let’s go." He turned to his sons. "I’ll see you boys this evening. Help your mother with chores, and work on your studies."

Ed grinned at the two quiet ‘yes, sirs’. Obviously both boys took their punishments to heart.

Ed and Ben enjoyed a leisurely walk to Ben’s store, a scant quarter hour from the house. Ben pointed out a few of the sights, but told Ed he didn’t want to spoil the boys’ tour.

"You’ll let them take me then?" Ed was pleased, for he was looking forward to spending time with the boys.

"They’ve been punished. I don’t believe in holding the mischief against them. After all, it’s not like we never fought."

"We had some brawls, didn’t we? I don’t think anything made Father angrier than to find the three of us rolling around in the dirt. We’d be going at it, and the next thing we knew, we’d be soaking wet. Father would be standing with the empty bucket, his jaw so far to the right I was surprised it didn’t come unhinged." Ed smiled at the memory.

"What about Mother? She’d always come in with that switch flying."

Ed nodded in agreement. "But usually you or John could convince her to not tell Father."

"Sometimes when she got done telling us off, I wished she had told Father! She’d get that sad look. ‘Someday, boys, when your father and I are gone, you shall only have each other. When you fight, I worry that you won’t even have that.’ "

Ed stopped. "I’d forgotten she said that.," He smiled at his brother. "But we fought, and here we are. Do you remember that poem that she used to recite?"

"Mother knew many poems, Ed."

That was true. Mother had loved poetry. "No, there was one. It wasn’t about brothers, but she used to tell us that it could be about us." A wisp of a poem flitted through Ed’s mind. "I know." He spoke the words softly. "Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, we will stand by each other, however it blow."

"And we have, Eddie, even if we haven’t been near each other these seven years." Ben draped his arm over his brother’s shoulder just as a passing carriage splashed mud and water on their legs. "But perhaps we shouldn’t stand by the edge of the sidewalk."

Ben unlocked the door of his shop and stepped aside to let his brother enter. Ed looked around the dimly lit interior and felt instantly at home. The tools and ropes hanging from the walls, the barrels of supplies lining the aisles, the rolled maps on the shelves were all reminiscent of the shops that Father had managed all during Ed’s youth. He and his brothers had all worked for Father in some capacity as soon as they had turned eight, and it was no surprise to Ed that Ben would turn to such a familiar avocation.

"My partner is at the docks today, so I’m alone in the shop. I’ve got several orders to fill. I thought I’d give you a couple of the lists and you can work from the storeroom while I stay up front."

Ed nodded. "Show me the layout of your storeroom, brother, and I’ll roll up my sleeves."

The next few days fell into a pleasant routine. Ben and Ed left the house after breakfast, returned home for a quick lunch, and spent the afternoons working in the shop. Ed met Ben’s partner, a taciturn Englishman named Smythe. Smythe spent most of his days supervising the men working in warehouses by the docks. Ben confided to his brother that his partner, albeit a hard worker, did not possess much in the way of social graces and tended to offend customers who came into the store.

Evenings were spent with the family, the women embroidering, the boys playing games or listening to stories told by their father or uncle. They reminded Ed nightly of their promise to show him around New Orleans, and Ben promised them that he and Ed would not have to work on Saturday, and that all four Cartwright men would explore the city on that day.

The sun was barely shining in the window when Ed woke to the sound of thumping from the courtyard. His befuddled senses struggled to understand the noise, and he finally realized that someone was chopping wood under his window. He groaned as he struggled to sit.

Of all days for the boys to decide to get their chores done early! Ed and Ben had stayed up late the night before, reminiscing about their sailing days, and, if Ed were being honest, enjoying Ben’s bottle of brandy more than was prudent.

Ed groaned again. He had not had such a head since the night before his wedding, when Seamus and Paddy had insisted on taking him out to the pubs. At least, they had told him it was more than one pub. He remembered only the first one.

He reached for his trousers, pulling them on as he stood. He lumbered to the dresser only to find the basin of water was empty. He stifled the vulgarity that came to mind, and, with a glance to his still sleeping wife, he quietly opened the door and padded down the hallway in his bare feet. Leaning out the back door, he called to Erik.

The boy stopped stacking wood and came running to his uncle.

"Good morning, Uncle Ed!"

Ed nodded at the boy’s overly enthusiastic greeting. "G’morning, Erik. Be a good boy and fetch me a bucket of water from the well, won’t you?"

Ed sat on the back stoop and waited for Erik. Adam wandered over and grinned at his uncle.

"Good morning, Uncle Ed." Adam crossed his arms and grinned again. "You’re looking tired this morning."

Ed looked at the boy as sharply as he could in his befuddled state. The lad had the look of someone who knew more than he should. "Your father and I stayed up a little later, talking of the old days."

"And singing."

"Pardon?"

Adam looked smug. "You and Pa, you were singing. You woke everyone up."

Ed had no recollection of the event, but he didn’t want to admit that to Adam. He cleared his throat. "I’m sure you’re exaggeratin’, lad." He waved feebly toward the wood. "Get back to your chores, before I tell your father you were eavesdroppin’ last night."

Adam’s back stiffened, and his hands flew to his hips. "I wasn’t! Even the women got up. I heard them giggling and then they had to help you to your room."

Ed had to admit to himself that he did not recall getting into bed the night before. Perhaps there was some truth to what the boy was saying. Fortunately he was spared a response when Erik came running up, the water from the bucket sloshing on his legs.

Ed stood and took the bucket from his nephew. "Thank you, Erik." With one last scowl at Adam, he turned and headed back into the house. He almost bumped into Ben as his brother stumbled from his room.

"You look like…you look bad." Ed tried to smile at Ben, but it hurt too much.

"As bad as you?"

"I am told that we sang last night and woke the house."

Ben groaned. "And who told you that?"

"Your eldest. He and his brother have decided to start their chores early. I imagine they are anxious for our expedition." Ed smiled despite the throbbing of his head.

Ben merely groaned again and stumbled toward the back door. Ed opened his bedroom door quietly, and smiled as he saw Kate stretching. There was a sight to gladden a man’s soul.

"How are you this morning, my love?" He placed the bucket of water by the dresser and hurried to kiss her.

"I should be askin’ you that question, Eddie." She smiled coyly. "I’m guessing you’re feelin’ last night’s fun."

Ed emptied the water from the bucket into the pitcher and then poured some into the bowl. He filled his cupped hands with water, bent down and splashed his face.

He reached for the towel. "Adam tells me we sang." Ed was hoping that she would deny it, but her soft laughter told him that Adam was right. He moaned. "How will I face Marie?"

"Hopefully with your shirt on." Kate stood behind him and wrapped her arms around him, the missing article of clothing dangling from her hand. He loved the feel of her body against his, her face pressed against his back. It gave him a feeling of contentment he had never known before.

"Marie was laughin’ as much as me last night. She’s not one to object to her man enjoyin’ himself with his brother."

Ed turned to face her, and hugged her close. "I am a lucky man, Mrs. Cartwright."

"Aye, you are." She danced away from him and reached for her dress. Ed grabbed her hand and looked at her closely. Her petticoat seemed a bit tighter than before. He found the change pleasing.

"Why, Katie, my love, I’m thinkin’ that my sister-in-law’s cookin’ agrees with ya." He mimicked her Irish lilt.

"Oh, and are ya thinkin’ that? I hope it’s not complainin’ I’m hearin’ from you."

Ed realized his mistake as soon as he saw her scowl. "No, Katie. I was thinking that you look healthier than I’d ever seen before. You are more lovely to me every day." He pulled her close to kiss her.

A banging on the door made them both jump. "Uncle Ed, Mama says breakfast is almost ready."

"She told him to shout," Ed muttered, pulling on his shirt. Looking toward the door, he raised his voice. "All right, Erik, we’ll be out in a minute."

Ed buttoned his shirt and ran the brush through his hair while Kate pulled her dress over her head. She turned, and he automatically began to button her.

"I think you need some new dresses, Mrs. Cartwright. Ask Marie to take you to her dressmaker."

She shook her head. "These are fine. There’s no need spendin’ the money."

Again with the money! Ed wasn’t rich, but he had had several profitable investments over the years. Kate, whose family was dirt poor, could not understand that she could buy what she wanted, as long as her tastes were not too extravagant. They’d argued about this repeatedly, and Ed had learned to be sneaky to get his way.

He kissed her and left her to finish her morning ablutions. His own shaving would have to wait until after breakfast. He would rip his face to shreds if he went near it with a razor before at least three cups of coffee.

He shuffled out the door and into the kitchen, hoping to wheedle a cup from Marie before they sat to breakfast.

"Mon dieu!" Marie took one look at him and handed him a steaming mug.

"Bless you, Marie." He sat on a stool and held his face over the mug, enjoying the relief the steam brought. Finally he took several sips of the strong brew, and his brain cleared slightly.

"Marie, I apologize for my behavior last evening." Now that he was feeling better, Ed was acutely embarrassed by what had happened.

She dismissed his apology with a wave. "You did nothing for which you must apologize, Edward. I am not a woman to complain when her husband enjoys himself with company."

He took another sip. "My brother is a most fortunate man." He watched her prepare breakfast, and prayed that his stomach would allow him to eat. "Marie, may I ask a favor?"

"You may ask, of course." She smiled at him.

Ed rolled his eyes. "I want Kate to buy some new dresses – some that are more in keeping with fashion. I know nothing of what women require, and she insists that she needs nothing."

Marie nodded. "She will need new dresses," she said cryptically. "I shall take her to my dressmaker this morning." She pursed her lips. "Mlle Giard is most talented."

Ed didn’t hesitate. "It’s settled, then. Will Mlle Giard expect payment today?"

Marie shook her head. "Non. When the dresses are delivered. And she is most reasonable."

Ed’s grin split his face as he bent to kiss Marie on the cheek. "Thank you, Marie."

"Hey now, what’s this?" Both Marie and Ed turned as Ben entered the kitchen.

Ed blushed and tried to stammer an explanation. Ben waved his hand as he laughed.

Ben accepted the mug of coffee from his wife with a grateful smile. "You two look like you are conspiring."

"I suppose we are. I’ve asked Marie to take Kate to the dressmaker to buy some new clothes." Ed refilled his cup. "What?" he said at Ben’s grimace.

"I’m not sure you want to let Marie loose in the dressmaker’s shop, Ed. The last time that happened…" Ben shrugged his shoulders dramatically as Marie leaned over to bat him with her towel.

"The last time that happened, you told me that I was a vision. Were you perhaps not telling the truth?"

Ed decided to leave the two alone. He backed out of the kitchen and almost bumped into Adam. Ed grabbed the boy’s arm to keep him from entering.

"Give your parents a few minutes." Ed smiled at the lad.

Adam scowled. "She’s not my mother."

The words were like a blow to Ed’s stomach, and he tightened his grip on the boy’s arm. "No man, save your father, knows that better than me, Adam Cartwright. But Marie is the woman your father loves, and she is your step-mother, and I will see you treat her with the respect she deserves!" He gave the boy a shake.

Adam stumbled slightly as Ed let go of him, then turned toward the house.

"Adam!"

Adam turned to face his uncle. "Yes, Uncle Ed?"

"You mind what I say, boy-o."

Adam blushed. "Yes, sir." He glanced over Ed’s shoulder, probably to see if someone was coming from the kitchen. "May I be excused?"

Ed nodded just as Ben opened the door. Ben stopped suddenly and looked at Adam’s retreating back.

"Is there a problem, Ed?"

"No, just a misunderstanding." Ed was saved from further explanation by Erik’s precipitous arrival. He held his hand out to steady the lad.

"Are we goin’ today, Uncle Ed?"

Ed sat on his heels to look Erik in the eye. "Did you finish your chores?"

"Yup!" Erik twisted his neck at the sound of Ben’s clearing throat. "I mean, yes, sir, I sure did!"

Ed ruffled the boy’s hair. "Then, laddie, we’ll be goin’ today, if your Pa says so." He smirked as he looked at his brother. He’d never be used to hearing Ben called "Pa". Although, were he being honest with himself, he would have found it odd to hear Ben called Father as well. He wondered for a minute what Will called John.

"We’ll be going right after breakfast, Erik." Ben assured his son as he reached down to help his brother stand. "Actually, we’ll have to wait until your uncle shaves."

Ed managed to get through the meal, and his shaving, unscathed. Erik had been barely able to sit still while eating, until Marie had finally chastised him. Adam had scowled at Marie, but Ed had given him a slight kick under the table, and the lad had sat up straight.

The four Cartwright men set out on their grand tour, Erik hanging on happily to his father’s and his uncle’s hands, and Adam shuffling behind. Ben looked over his shoulder at his eldest son, and then glanced at his brother.

"Did you and Adam have words?"

"Leave it be, Ben. Don’t spoil our outing with a scolding."

Ben rolled his eyes. "That will be up to Adam. I don’t tolerate sulking."

"I see. He takes after John, then, does he?" John had been a notorious sulk when the brothers had been boys. Even when they were sailing, the slightest remonstrance from a mate or the Captain would put John in a foul mood.

Ben nodded, and looked over his shoulder again. "Adam?" He smiled as he beckoned the boy to his side.

Adam came running. "Yes, Pa?"

Ben wrapped his arm around Adam. "Where should we take Uncle Ed first?"

Adam’s smile lit up his face. "How about the docks?"

Ben laughed as he leaned toward his brother. "The boys aren’t allowed to go to the docks on their own. All right, Adam, to the docks it is."

Ed couldn’t take his eyes off the houses that they passed on their walk. His brother’s house was small, like the homes of their boyhood, but some of these houses rivaled the fine homes of Boston, at least in size. He didn’t think it was possible to find such different architecture and still be in the United States. When he said as much to his brother, Ben laughed at him.

"You forget, brother, that New Orleans has not long been part of the United States, and was owned by the French and by the Spanish." Ben pointed up the street. "We’re heading into the oldest part of the city. I’m told it was almost completely destroyed in the 1780s, I think it was. The homes were rebuilt in the Spanish style that we see now."

The houses were impressive. Almost all were two stories, with wrought iron balconies and walls suggesting private courtyards. Ed’s young companions were oblivious to the architecture, of course. At least Erik was. Ed noticed that Adam would periodically stop to study some interesting motif or style. He knew then that if Adam had had a sketchpad in hand, they would never have made it to the docks.

Ben leaned close. "He’ll draw them later." Ed was startled that his brother knew his thoughts, but Ben continued. "He has her talent. Seeing him use it is her gift to me."

Ed nodded curtly, unable to trust himself to speak. His thoughts were interrupted by a frantic pulling on his hand. He looked down at Erik.

"See that house over there? The man’s mean. He’ll chase ya with his dog if ya play stickball near his house." Erik’s arm swung in the other direction. "That’s the old lady’s house. We don’t see her much, but her ladies’ll give us cookies if they see us." Erik held back, undoubtedly hoping the ladies would see him. His luck did not hold that morning, and his father and uncle tugged on the boy’s hands to get him to continue.

Erik kept up his monologue for several minutes until finally he stopped. "We’re not supposeta go further than this unless Pa’s with us." He skipped slightly with the anticipation of high adventure.

"And do you mind your Pa?" Ed thought back to the days in Boston, when Father had clearly defined boundaries, and clearly explained consequences for disobedience. That hadn’t stopped Ben and Ed, though.

Erik nodded solemnly as he tugged on Ed’s shirt. Ed bent down as requested and Erik whispered loudly in his ear "But Adam don’t."

Ed straightened as he glanced at his oldest nephew. No, the boy wouldn’t be his father’s son if he didn’t test the limits at every opportunity. Adam looked with concern toward his father, who was trying to maintain a stern composure.

"I’m sure Adam has learned his lesson." Ben waved his hands, indicating the boys could run ahead.

Ed watched his nephews for a minute. "How is it to punish Adam for the very things we did as boys? Don’t you feel hypocritical?"

Ben shook his head. "No. No more than Father did, because Uncle John will tell you that Father also got into trouble as a boy. It’s a funny thing, becoming a father. As soon as your child starts to move about, you realize that your own father was right, and that you did some incredibly foolish things in your youth. I would be failing in my duty if I did not punish the boys." He sighed. "I don’t enjoy it though."

"I think perhaps it is better if you do not, or you might do it overly much."

The two men walked in companionable silence for several minutes. Ed was so busy looking around him that he did not look forward until Ben tapped his arm lightly.

They had arrived at the docks. When Ed and Kate had arrived in the city, it had been dusk and Ed had been so concerned with their baggage and finding a hotel that he had not taken the opportunity to look around him. The sight he saw now amazed him.

Ships stretched as far as the eye could see. Tall sailing ships, elegant paddle boats, smaller riverboats. Barrels and crates and other goods lined the wharves, and everywhere there was activity. Men of all races were moving the cargo from ship to dock to warehouses or waiting wagons. Ed could almost imagine himself back in Massachusetts, but for the absence of the smell of salt in the air.

"I cannot believe this is a river, Ben! This activity rivals Boston!"

"I suspect it surpasses Boston, though I be disloyal to say so." Ben grinned as he started to point out sights. "Across the river you can see Algiers. That’s where you’ll find the shipyards, and the moorings. This east side of the river is where all the cargo is discharged and it’s where the warehouses are." He swung his arm downriver. "My warehouses are down that way."

Suddenly Ben stopped talking and frowned, searching about. Adam and Erik were not in sight. Ed had a bad feeling that their expedition was about to be cut short when he saw the boys.

They were in the company of a large, dark-skinned man. He had his hand clamped on Adam’s arm, and Erik trotted behind, trying to keep up with the man’s long strides.

"There you are, Mistah Cartwright. These boys said you wuz with them, but I heard that before."

Adam turned beet red as he turned to the man. "You could have believed me!"

"Now, young Mistah Adam, when you tell a lie, you’re like that boy what cried wolf. Ain’t no one gonna believe you next time."

Ed covered his mouth to hide his smile. This man obviously knew the boys well enough to know the trouble they could get into.

Ben gestured toward his brother. "Cicero, this is my brother, Edward Cartwright. Ed, this is Cicero. He works in my warehouse."

Ed held out his hand, and Cicero shook it. "Pleased ta meet you, Mistah Cartwright."

"Ed, please, Cicero."

The man nodded. "Mistah Edward."

Ed was about to protest that it was simply "Ed" but Ben shook his head slightly before addressing Cicero.

"How are things in the warehouse this morning?"

"We’re just about done loadin’ that shipment in. You look like you’re on an adventure with your boys, Mistah Cartwright. I reckon you bettah stay away so you don’t start workin’."

The look of horror on the boys’ faces was comical, as Ben appeared to be considering what Cicero had said, and Ed hurried to agree with Cicero. "Listen to the man, Ben. C’mon, we’re supposed to be enjoying our Saturday with the boys." He shook his brother’s arm slightly.

Finally Ben nodded. "All right. When the men are done with that shipment, Cicero, tell them to take the rest of the day off."

Cicero grinned. "Yes, suh, Mistah Cartwright!" He nodded his head. "My regards to your missus. Glad to meet you, Mistah Edward."

The Cartwrights spent the next hour exploring the docks. Ben knew many of the men busy at work, and he took care to introduce his brother to everyone. Ed couldn’t help but notice that both Adam and Erik were careful to stay by their father’s side, or at least within his view. They were no doubt anxious to keep him away from work. He grinned, remembering how he and his brothers had enjoyed their time with Father when he was not working.

The two men sat on a box as they watched the boys clamber over ropes and barrels. The tall ship tied to the pier rocked gently in the river currents. Ed shook his head.

"I still cannot believe this is a river port. It’s amazing." He watched the ship a minute more. "Do you miss it, Ben? The sailing, I mean."

Ben stroked his chin. "No." He hesitated. "Well, maybe sometimes if I’m being honest. But mostly, no." He glanced at Ed. "Do you miss it?"

"I don’t know. But if I were still sailing, I wouldn’t have Kate. I guess that’s not much of a sacrifice then, is it?"

"She is a fine woman."

"Aye, she is at that." Ed stood and stretched. "And that’s a feat in and of itself, given her family." He stared at the ship before he turned back to Ben. "They live in a small town in the north of Ireland. Her father and brothers work for the English landlord and hate every minute of it. Not that I can blame them, for the bowing and scrapping the landlord expects makes me understand why our family took up arms in the Revolution. But her father and her older brother find their solace in drink far too often."

Ed grinned. "You know, Ben, I never thought I’d say this, but I appreciate Father’s consistency in his punishments. Kate’s younger brother, Paddy, is three years younger than her – he’s eighteen. One time the old man laughs at the trouble Paddy’s in, and the next time he lands a clout that sends the boy reeling. At least with Father we knew what to expect when we got into trouble."

Ben’s response was lost as the two boys ran up to the men. Adam, panting from his exertions, grabbed his father’s hand. "C’mon, Pa, let’s go to the Plaza!"

Ben grinned and ruffled Adam’s hair. "All right." Ben waved his hand toward the road. "Lead on, Adam!"

The boys skipped ahead of Ben and Ed. Ed was so busy looking around him that Ben had to stop several times and poke his brother in the arm to continue. Ed smiled weakly.

"This city is unlike any I have ever seen." He glanced around again. "And that’s saying something, brother."

Ben nodded his understanding. "I know. Right now we’re heading to the Plaza. I’m not sure how to describe it – I guess you could say it’s a large grassy square."

"Like the Common?" Ed and Ben had spent many hours playing on the Boston Common.

Ben shook his head. "No. For one thing, there are no cows on the Plaza."

Ed sniffed. "None on the Common either. The Captain says they banned them in ’30."

Ben stopped in his tracks. "No! That must have caused an uproar."

"I expect it did." The two men started walking again. "The Captain didn’t say."

Ben laughed. "Are you ever going to call him Abel?"

"Tried it. Almost choked on the word. I could no more call him Abel than I could have called Father ‘Joseph’." He glanced slyly at Ben. "I’m surprised you ever got past ‘sir.’ Nobody could tie your tongue faster than the Captain."

Ben smiled sheepishly. "I had a great deal riding on his good opinion."

"Aye, you did." Ed sighed deeply. "From the moment you saw her, I think."

Ed knew that Ben wouldn’t deny that. His brother’s feelings for Elizabeth had been apparent since the day they met, when he took a thrashing for her. Ed’s own feelings had been more ambivalent at first. She was a girl, nothing more. Those feelings had changed many times until they had settled into a deep affection for the woman who became his sister.

Ben stopped. "We’re here."

Ed glanced around. All he saw was a large square of grass surrounded by benches and street vendors. No, this was nothing like Boston Common; he doubted any militia ever drilled here. Ed pointed to the vendors.

"I don’t suppose any of them sell coffee, do they?"

Ben nodded. "They do. I’m not sure what you’ll think of it, though. Many people in New Orleans drink their coffee with chicory."

"I don’t care if they drink it with gunpowder. I need another cup." He called to Adam and Erik, and both boys came running. "Adam, Erik, I have a task for you. Do you think you’re grown enough?"

Both boys nodded wildly. Ed reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocketbook. "Adam, here is some money. Go fetch a cup of coffee for your father and for myself, and then you and Erik may spend the rest as you choose." He fumbled about for a minute and pulled out a silver coin.

Adam gaped. "Uncle Ed, this is a dollar."

Ed raised an eyebrow. "Did you doubt that I know my coins?" He waved toward the vendors. "I prefer my coffee black. Add some sugar to your father’s."

He turned to see Ben frowning at him. "Ed, you’re spoiling the boys."

"That’s my right as uncle." Ben’s expression didn’t change. "Please, Ben. I’ve been too many years away. Allow me this indulgence."

Ben sighed and nodded. "All right, as long as you don’t make a habit of it."

The two brothers sat on a bench and waited until the two boys came back with the coffee. Adam carried both mugs, walking with exaggerated care. He kept speaking to Erik, who had his fist clasped tightly around something.

"If I’m not mistaken, my eldest son is telling his brother that he’d best not lose the change!"

Sure enough, as soon as Adam had handed the steaming mugs to his father and uncle, he held out his hand, and Erik dumped a small collection of coins. Adam looked back to his uncle.

"It’s a lot of money, Uncle Ed. Are you sure?"

Ed raised his eyebrow. Had anyone handed him money as a boy, he would not have asked twice. "Do they not have iced cream or candy for a boy to enjoy?"

Erik nodded so quickly that his cap came flying off. "They sure do, Uncle Ed." He bent to pick up the hat and then reached out to tug on Adam’s arm. "C’mon, Adam!"

Adam glanced to his father, and Ed saw Ben’s almost imperceptible nod. Adam grinned, and the two boys ran off. Ed watched them move from vendor to vendor, no doubt trying to decide which treat to enjoy.

"They are good boys, Ben. You should be very proud of them."

"I am, have no fear. Erik’s a well-behaved boy. Adam’s reaching the age where he’s a bit more mischievous, and I expect we’ll have some rough sailing ahead, but considering all he’s been through, I am pleased."

Ed looked around some more. "A city like this will offer a boy lots of opportunity for mischief."

"Like Boston?" The two men laughed. "The boys know the boundaries of behavior, and they know the consequences."

"Did that ever stop us?" Ed sipped his coffee and felt his brain clear a little more.

Adam and Erik returned after a while. Erik had obviously enjoyed his iced cream, and Ben muttered something about being grateful it was vanilla as he tried to wipe the worst of the drips off the boy’s shirt. Adam offered his uncle and father some of the sugared pecans that he had in a paper cone.

"So boys, where do you think we should go next?" Ben stood and stretched and Ed followed suit.

"The head!" Erik almost squealed with delight and Adam clapped his hands.

Ed looked at them both oddly. He had never seen anyone get so excited by the…

His brother interrupted his thoughts. "He means a wax head that hangs in a window."

Enlightenment dawned. "Oh, I thought he meant…"

"I know what you meant. I was a sailor, too, you know." Ben considered his sons. "I suppose the head will be out by now." He gestured across the Plaza. "Show us the way, gentlemen."

As they made their way through the Plaza, Ben pointed out some of the local sights. "That building is the Presbytere. It was built about forty years ago for the Capuchin monks. Remind me later to get some of the coffee their order serves."

Ed nodded. "I’ve had that in Italy. Cappuccino, they called it."

"That’s right. We’ll get some in the Market." Ben pointed out another building. "That’s the Cabildo. It was once the seat of government before Louisiana became part of America. The Louisiana Purchase was signed there."

"Truly?"

"No, I made it up."

Ed looked quickly at his brother, then punched his arm. That joke was a favorite from their boyhood.

"The City Council meets there now. It has Napoleon’s death mask on display. The doctor who attended him in death is now practicing in our city. He presented the mask to the city."

"Glory, Ben, I’d like to see that!"

Ben shook his head. "Not today. Erik doesn’t need to see it; it’ll give him nightmares. I’ve taken Adam already."

The boys came back and tried to hurry the men along. Finally they reached their destination. Several long, low buildings stretched out before them.

"I am reminded of Quincy Market, Ben."

Ben scratched the back of his neck as he thought a minute. "Somewhat." He smiled. "But they didn’t fill in the harbor to build this!"

"That was something to see, wasn’t it?"

The Market was a riotous cacophony that reminded Ed of New Orleans itself. As on the docks, people of all races crowded the booths, some selling fresh produce, others live chickens. The boys obviously knew where they were going, for they hurried past the food, not even checking to see if their father and uncle were following behind. Finally they stopped, and Erik waved.

"It’s out, Pa! Come see, Uncle Ed!"

Several children were clustered in front of a window. Their expressions alternated between rapt fascination and abject horror. Ed glanced at the sign above the store. "Dr. DeLeon, Dentist."

Ed could well understand the look of horror. The very thought of visiting a dentist made him ill. But he could not understand the children’s fascination until he stood by his nephews.

There, in the window, was one of the most repulsive sights Ed had ever seen. A giant, leering wax face gaped back at the crowd. Its mechanical jaw opened and closed, displaying teeth one minute and an empty mouth the next. Yes, he could understand the boys’ excitement.

Erik turned toward him. "Did ya ever see anything like this, Uncle Ed?"

Ed thought a minute and then allowed as he had. "When I was sailing in South America, we needed fresh water. The captain – not your grandfather, Adam, for I had left The Wanderer by this time – the captain decided we needed to take on water, and fresh fruit if we could find it."

Ed noticed that all the children had turned their eyes to him. "I was Second Mate at the time, and the captain decided I should lead the shore party. I took seven fine men on the rowboats and we headed to shore. We stayed together, for we did not know what manner of beasts or men might be on shore." Ed bent down and lowered his voice. The children – boys all – leaned close.

"We went several hundred yards into the forest when one of my men smelled smoke. We decided to investigate and we came across an encampment. That’s when we saw the evidence that we were not the first white men to set foot on this spot."

Ed glanced at his brother, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He winked. "We saw a pile of sailors’ clothing, much like our own. We saw the weapons such as we carried, and then we saw the Bible, sitting on a log. Where the men were, we could not tell.

"Suddenly, one of my men began to shriek. Now, this was not a small man given to frights. He was a harpooner, larger than most men. I turned to silence him, and saw him point. When I followed his finger, I saw them."

Ed paused for effect, waiting until he was sure he had everyone’s attention. He dropped his voice again. "They were the heads of the sailors. The savages had shrunken them some how, and those grotesque things were hanging from the trees by what remained of their hair."

Ed was pleased to see several of the boys look ill. "What we did not realize was that our harpooner’s shriek had alerted the head hunters to our presence. Suddenly the encampment was filled with half naked men, shouting and making such a racket. They came toward us, spears at the ready. We were able to let off one round with our pistols, but we had no time to reload. I am not ashamed to admit that my men and I ran from that scene. We barely made it to our boat, and even then the savages chased us and tried to capsize us. It took the ship’s cannon to chase them away."

Adam’s jaw dropped. "Is that true, Uncle Ed?"

Ed nodded solemnly and he rolled up his trouser leg. "Do you see yon scar? That is where the savages’ spear raked my leg. The ship’s doctor said I should be grateful that I did not lose it!"

Just then the dentist came bustling out of his shop and chased the boys away. He glowered at Ben and Ed before he stomped back into his shop.

Adam and Erik stepped away from their uncle, the awe apparent on their faces. Ed stood straight and put his hands on their shoulders.

"Adam, I wonder if you might know of a bookstore in the vicinity." Adam nodded and he and Erik led the way.

Ben caught Ed’s arm. "That scar came from the time the mate on the Wanderer landed the swordfish and you got too close."

Ed shrugged. "And you’ve never told those boys a tall tale?"

The four Cartwrights spent the rest of the day in the Market. Ed insisted on buying books and toys for the boys, despite Ben’s protestations. He also bought gifts for Marie and for Kate. They ate lunch in one of the stalls, and continued their shopping, only stopping when Ben suggested they get home for dinner.

When they reached home, Erik ran into the room. "Mama! Mama! See at what Uncle Ed bought!" Marie and Kate glanced at the parcels and Marie frowned.

"Edward, you spoil them."

He looked at her sheepishly. "I’ve missed so many Christmases and birthdays."

Erik tugged on his mother’s sleeve. "Mama, Uncle Ed told us about seein’ shrunken heads, and head hunters and he showed us his scar!"

Marie ruffled Erik’s hair. "Indeed? And will Uncle Ed be awake with you when the nightmares come?"

Ed didn’t mind that night when he had to leave his comfortable bed to join his crying nephew. The boy clung to Ed, finally falling asleep. Ed sat a long while enjoying the warmth of Erik’s body against his own until he, too, finally fell asleep sitting up in Erik’s bed. Ed woke the next morning feeling achy, but he did not complain.

The Cartwrights fell into a pleasant routine during the next week. Ed accompanied Ben to the shop, where they worked together as well as they had when they had been boys. Some days they went home for lunch and some days they bought food from one of the vendors in the Plaza. Evenings were spent playing games with the boys, or telling more stories. Ed was amazed that Adam and Erik never grew weary of his stories. He especially enjoyed the times just before the boys would go to sleep, for he often read to them. More and more, Ed found himself looking forward to being a father some day, and he often caught himself looking at Kate wistfully. This was how a man should live – a wife and children, a brother and his family nearby.

One night Ben brought out his fiddle, and Ed smiled to see it. "You still play then?"

Ben nodded. "And think of Aunt May every time."

Ed turned to his wife. "Our Aunt May loved music, and she insisted we all learn an instrument. We each got one of our father’s cousins’ instruments. John got Tom’s concertina, Ben got Charlie’s fiddle, and I learned on Will’s banjo."

Ben looked up from tuning his fiddle. "Do you still have the banjo?"

Ed shifted uncomfortably. "The fish are playing it now. It’s rolling around the bottom of the Irish Sea."

Erik started to giggle but a quick nudge from Adam silenced him. Ben looked solemn.

"Thank God you are not with it."

Ed nodded. "Every night, dear brother. I thank Him every night." He looked at Ben. "You know, the funny thing about that voyage? I had forgotten my Bible – you know, the one that Father gave me, like yours. I had left it with Uncle John, and I was upset with myself for not having it. One of the first things I thought of when I realized I hadn’t drowned was how glad I was that I had left that at home."

At Ed’s request, Ben played several jigs. Kate declined his invitation to dance, but Marie accepted gladly. Ed even taught the boys to dance a few steps. Finally the man collapsed in his chair.

"Katie, I’m surprised you wouldn’t join me." Ed took a sip of brandy. "Ben, you should see my wife. Back in Ireland, no one could out-dance Kate." He glanced at his wife, but she only smiled. "We used to dance like that when we were boys, too. Or, rather, Aunt May and Uncle John danced like that while we played." Ed took a breath. "I’m glad to see you are still playing, Ben."

Other nights, after the boys went to bed, the four adults often indulged in games of cribbage or even some of the games Ben and Ed had learned during their sailing days. Ed knew that Kate loved cards, but he was surprised to find Marie a skilled player.

Some nights the women sat and sewed and chatted quietly. On those nights, Ben and Ed would talk about the future and about traveling west. Ed was happy to learn that Ben had not given up his dream to settle on the Pacific coast.

"I came to New Orleans to earn enough to continue my trip west." Ben glanced at his wife. "My plans changed."

"Permanently?" Ed lit his pipe and settled back in his chair.

"No. Marie also wants to leave New Orleans, although that will be harder for her than for me."

Ed leaned forward excitedly. "Come with us, Ben. Let’s go together!" Ben rolled his eyes, and Ed glared. "You’re doing it again. You know I hate it when you roll your eyes! You’re thinking that I’m going off half-cocked. But I’m not, you know. I’ve given this serious thought. "

"For yourself, yes, I’m sure you have. But Ed, I’ve got a business to sell, and a family to move. I can’t just pack up and go."

Ed slumped back, but only for a minute. "Come next year, then. I’m planning to go to St. Louis and I’ll probably wait until next spring to head out. I think I’d be too late to go this year, anyway."

"Eddie, has anyone, other than some trappers and Indians, actually made the land trek to Oregon or to California?"

Ed slapped the arms of the chair in frustration. "I’m sure someone has! Besides, if trappers can do it, so can we!"

Ben threw his hands in the air. "Eddie, you can’t just go running off like that! You need a plan!"

Ed felt like pulling out his hair. Ben had been like this since they were boys. Talking about things, planning things out. "You know, Ben, that’s always been your problem. If I had waited for you to finish planning things, we would never had had that tree house."

"Yes, and we would have been able to sit comfortably after Father found it, too."

Ed laughed aloud. "He was angry, wasn’t he? And you never blamed me, Ben. You were good like that." He leaned forward to tap his brother’s arm lightly. "See? You need to come with me, to make sure I get there." He sat back. "Imagine it, Ben. We could live near each other – maybe Johnny would come, too."

"He’d not thank you for calling him that, you know."

Ed smirked; he knew how much John hated that nickname. "Of course, he’d have to leave that b…shrew of a wife at home, but Will could come!"

"Patience isn’t that bad."

"Yes, she is. She doesn’t like me." Ed nodded emphatically.

"Maybe because you threw up on her at her wedding?" Ben picked up his pipe and filled it.

"She threw up first!" Ed was not going to bear the blame for that incident.

Ben took a drag on his pipe. "She was with child. You were drunk."

How the devil was Ed supposed to know she was with child? People weren’t supposed to be like that on their wedding day, only after! He noticed Marie and Kate staring at him and he shrugged.

"All right, Patience can come." In fact, Ed thought uncharitably, it would be a pleasure to see that woman in the company of Marie and Kate! They’d put her in her place right quick! Glory be, but Liz had despised Patience.

One Saturday, Ben and Ed were sitting alone in the parlor. Marie and Kate had gone to Marie’s sister’s for the afternoon, and the boys had gone to play with friends. Ed was pleased, for now he might hear the story of Ben’s silence. He filled his pipe and lit it, and then leaned back in his chair.

"Tell me of Inger."

Ben’s surprise was obvious, and he was quiet for so long that Ed began to fear that he had offended or hurt his brother. He was about to apologize when Ben spoke quietly.

"Adam loved her first." Ben glanced at his brother, and then he stared into space. "We were in Illinois. I hadn’t found work in quite some time, and we were down to our last dimes. Adam was sick with a sore throat and a fever, and I was at my wit’s end. I thought about returning to Boston, except I had no money with which to travel east.

"We reached a small town, and I went into a store, hoping to buy some food and medicine to last until I could find work. She was working behind the counter. I came to know later that she was the owner, along with her brother, Gunnar." Ben leaned forward to pick up his own pipe and fill it. He nodded his thanks as Ed held out the stick to light it.

"She insisted on giving me the medicine for Adam…"

"I’m surprised your pride allowed you to take it." Ed winked at his brother.

Ben smiled in acknowledgement of the jibe. "She shamed me into it. Told me she didn’t think too highly of a man who let his pride interfere with his son’s well being."

Ed grinned. "I like her already. I’ve always thought you needed people to knock you down to size."

Ben laughed. "You may be sure I am surrounded by them now!" He sobered suddenly. "I found work in the town, and we stayed in a small boarding house near the store. Unbeknownst to me, Adam began sneaking from our room to visit ‘Miss Inger’ when I was at work.’" Ben nodded at his brother’s raised eyebrow. "I caught him after a couple of days, and you may be sure he regretted his disobedience."

Ed listened patiently. He had heard this story before, when Ben had written to tell his brother of his new wife. But, Ed knew, he needed to let Ben tell this happy part before he could tell of the tragedy.

"But Inger had already grown fond of the boy, and before I knew it, she was inviting us to supper. I found myself looking forward to these meals. It was such a treat to see Adam relaxed and happy in the company of a woman." Ben sighed deeply. "I’d be lying if I didn’t picture Liz when I saw Adam sitting on Inger’s lap, the two of them giggling.

"After a while, though, I stopped seeing Liz’s face, and I saw Inger holding Adam, loving him. She loved him so much, and…" Ben paused a minute, "she loved me. I could feel her love every time I saw her, and I quickly realized that I loved her. Not the same way I loved Liz, but not less, just differently. Being with Inger brought me a peace I hadn’t known for a long time. And a great many other feelings I hadn’t felt in a long while, either." Ben blushed slightly before he smiled. "Being with Inger made me whole again.

"It didn’t take long for me to stop comparing her to Liz, and I saw all these wonderful things about her. She loved my son, and she loved me. She had a sense of humor that you would have appreciated, Ed. She always loved to play tricks on Adam and me. And, she didn’t mind when we played them back!

"There were some problems – mostly with her brother. But eventually they worked out in our favor, and left Inger free to marry and to leave Illinois. So, we headed west again, this time with enough money in our pockets that I did not worry about feeding my family.

"And we were a family. For the first time, I had something beyond raising Liz’s son on the land that Liz had dreamt of. I had a wife, and we hoped for more children. I saw a future for me, and it was a happy one."

Ben stopped talking, and stood abruptly. He turned toward the fireplace. Ed stood beside him and placed his hand on his older brother’s shoulder. "I’m sorry, Ben. You don’t have to say anything more."

Ben shook his head and turned toward Ed. His eyes were glittering but his tone was steady. "No. I’ve never told anyone this part of the story, and I think it’s time." The two men settled back in their chairs.

"We learned that she was with child before we left St. Joseph, but she insisted that we not postpone our trip. To be honest, I was relieved, for expenses were high, and work hard to come by. Still, I was nervous for if anything went wrong, we would be far from a doctor.

"Inger laughed at my concerns. ‘I am a big peasant woman, Benyamin. Nothing will happen.’ For my part I needed only to think of Lizzie to know all too well what could happen even with a doctor present. But I was determined to put those thoughts from my mind.

"Erik was born on the prairie, as healthy and as large a baby as any woman on the wagon train had ever seen. Inger was fine; she had no troubles at all, and she was so proud of our son. And Adam – you should have seen him, Ed. He was happier than I had ever seen him before, or since. He spent so much time talking to Erik that Inger would have to shoo him away or the baby would have never slept."

Ben paused and Ed could tell by the far away look in his brother’s eyes that Ben was lost in the past.

Ben sighed. "I was never more content. I had a beautiful wife, two healthy sons, and we were heading west. And then we were attacked."

Ben’s jaw tensed, and his posture stiffened. "We were in Ash Hollow, and we had just enough time to get into a small building. The other men and I had our guns and ammunition, and we were shooting at the band of braves that were trying to get to us. I didn’t know it at the time, but Inger had pushed the boys into a corner, handed Erik to Adam and told Adam to watch after his brother.

"I did know that she was beside me, for she was reloading the gun. We had two guns. I would shoot, she would reload. We had just about beaten the Indians off. One brave let loose with a final arrow and I heard Inger gasp. I looked around, and the arrow was deep within her chest. I gathered her in my arms and I watched the life leave her eyes. She only had time to say that she loved me and she was gone."

Ed could feel his eyes tearing as his brother choked out the story. He reached out to cover Ben’s hand with his own, as much to take comfort as to give it.

"We turned around, the boys and I, along with another family. The woman helped me with Erik and I shall be eternally grateful, for he would have died without her. Once the other family went their own way, I began to drink. Not a lot at first, just enough to relax me in the evening, or so I tried to convince myself. Then, I would drink more after the boys went to sleep, so I could forget how lonely I was, so I could forget what it was like to have two wives die while I could do nothing. I slowly sank into despair. Jobs were hard to find, and I had to move from town to town. I made no friends; I had only the boys, and part of me couldn’t even bear to look at them, for they were reminders of what I had lost. The other part knew that if I didn’t have them, I would have laid down and died beside Inger. They were all that kept me going."

Ben wouldn’t meet his brother’s eye, and he pulled his hand away from Ed. "And I was a bad father. We lived in the most squalid places, for I couldn’t afford more. I left my six-year-old son to care for his one-year-old brother while I worked. My temper was short, and I spanked Adam for any small mischief on his part. I started to leave the boys alone after they were asleep; I needed to drown my sorrows.

"I knew enough to know how bad off I was, and if I had had the money, I would have sent the boys to live with Uncle John or with Abel. Finally, we were in some small town along the Mississippi. To be honest, I don’t know if we were in Arkansas or Louisiana at that point. We were living in a bad part of town, and I came home from drinking to find a man in our house, robbing what few things we had. Without thinking, I grabbed the gun I had by the door and I killed him. I found the boys cowering in the back room, terrified."

Ben shuddered and Ed reached out again. "It was self-defense."

Ben nodded. "That’s what the law said, and they pressed no charges. But I killed a man, and there’s a part of me that will never be the same again."

Ed could only stare at his brother, horrified at what Ben had gone through. "Why did you not write? I would have come in an instant."

Ben sighed. "I know. But I was so ashamed of myself that I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone seeing me. Killing that man was an enlightenment for me, and I finally realized that my actions were threatening the two people I held most dear in the world, my sons.

"I stopped drinking. I decided that we would have a better chance if I moved to a city and so, after I saved some money, we came here. I got a job, and found someone who could watch the boys during the day. I began to save money and things were looking better. I was still living only for the boys, though. Everything I did was for them."

Ben took a deep breath. "We lived here for almost a year, and then I met Marie. I was working in a dry goods store, and she would come in every few days. I finally worked up the courage to speak with her. By that time I had saved enough to buy a chandlery business with Smythe, who had been working with me in the store.

"I started courting Marie. She has been a godsend to me, brother. She has helped me face my demons, she has brought grace and beauty and love to my life, and she has become a mother to my sons."

"Erik seems to love her."

Ben grinned. "He adores her." The grin faded slightly. "Adam is taking longer to come around. He was deeply hurt by Inger’s death, and by what happened after. At least the boy is respectful now."

Ed thought a minute, and then decided if Adam were his son, he would want to know the truth. "When you are around."

Ben surprised him. "I know." He sighed heavily. "But I can’t make him love her, and Marie has asked that I leave it to her. She’s determined to win his love." Ben smiled slightly. "If there’s anyone who can do that, it’s Marie."

Ben picked up his pipe and relit it. "Eddie, you…you aren’t going to tell them back east, are you?"

Ed’s heart broke; he had never heard Ben sound hesitant or self-doubting. But, putting on a brave face, Ed rolled his eyes. "I’ve never been a tattletale, Ben, you know that. I’ll tell them that I found you well, for I have, haven’t I?" Reassured by his brother’s nod, Ed continued. "I do wish you had written. You needn’t suffer alone, not so long as I live."

Ben nodded. "I know." He smiled slightly. "But I’m not alone anymore, am I? I have Marie, and you. I tell you, Ed, I don’t think I have ever felt so at peace."

Later that evening, the Cartwrights gathered in the parlor after supper. Marie and Kate settled on the sofa with their sewing baskets at their feet. Ben and Ed, brandy glasses in hand, sat in the two chairs that flanked the empty fireplace, while Erik and Adam stretched out on the floor, the Fox and Geese board between them.

Ed and his brother talked over the stories in the day’s newspaper, smiling as the crow of victory from one boy or the other interrupted them occasionally. Ben’s smile disappeared as Adam shoved the board away angrily.

"You’re cheatin’, Erik!"

"Nuh-uh. Don’t cheat, you do!" Erik shoved the board back toward his brother.

Ed hid his smile. This was an argument he and the boys’ father had had more than one time. He hoped for his nephews’ sake that they ended it before Ben became involved, lest the boys meet with the same fate that Ben and Ed often suffered.

"A-dam. Er-ik." Ben’s tone was stern. "Put the game away." When both boys only stared at their father, he half rose from his chair. The two boys scrambled to obey.

Ed’s lips twitched and he leaned toward his brother. "Do they do that often?"

Ben leaned forward as well, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was quiet, so that they would not be overheard. "Not as much as we did. And they have more sense than we did."

The two men laughed quietly as they glanced at the boys. Adam had picked up his book and stretched out on the floor. Erik looked dismayed at the thought of having nothing to do but read. Ed grinned again, and beckoned the boy to him.

"Would you like a story, Erik?"

The boy’s face lit up. "Yes, sir! About you and Pa when you was boys?"

Ed winked at his brother. "What makes you think your father and I did anything that would make a good story?" He reached for his pipe and began to fill it from the tobacco pouch.

"Pa’s told us lots o’ good stories." Erik leaned on the arm of his uncle’s chair, so excited at the prospect of a story that he was barely able to stand still.

Ed waved his hand dismissively. "Well, then, I’m sure you’ve heard all the stories worth telling." He noticed that Adam had put down his book and rolled so he was facing the chairs.

Erik shook his head violently, his blond hair swaying with the movement. "Nuh-unh." He glanced at his father when he heard the man clear his throat. "I mean, no sir, he hasn’t."

Ed thought a minute. "Did your father ever tell you about the time he saved my life? He was a hero that day, to be sure."

Ben shook his head. "No, I’ve never told that story, Ed." His voice was quiet, and he sounded embarrassed.

Ed held out his hands, and Erik crawled onto his lap. Adam scooted toward his uncle so that he was resting his head on the man’s legs. Ed smiled as he reached out and tousled the boy’s hair.

"Let’s see, it was right after I signed on to the Wanderer."

"It was before." Ed glanced over at Ben, surprised at the interruption. "Father and Mother were still alive. The Wanderer had stopped at the Cape and was bringing us home from our summer."

"You’re right." Ed turned his attention to his nephews once more. "I must have been 13, then, and your father was not quite 15. He was just about to become Captain Stoddard’s cabin boy. John, of course, had already been on board for two years.

"We left Provincetown in the early morning. We hadn’t gone more than two hours when we ran into a terrific fog. It was terrifying. The air had gone still, and the ship slowed to a halt. The only noise was the sound of the masts creaking and the water slapping against the hull of the ship. We couldn’t even hear the gulls, and they were usually ever-present. Captain Stoddard had a seaman ring the ship’s bell every couple of minutes. John told us that was because we were in a busy shipping lane, and the Captain was concerned about collision with another ship.

"Your father and I were near the rail, and we were, I’m sorry to say, behaving foolishly. I was standing on the rail, looking to see if I could see the water. He stood beside me on the deck and we soon began to shove, as boys will do when they are bored." Ed hid the smile as both boys looked sheepish. He glanced at his wife and sister-in-law. They had set aside their sewing and were listening intently.

"The ship dipped suddenly, and I lost my balance. I felt myself falling over the side, my arms waving wildly to catch hold somehow. Then I hit the water; the sting of the impact was nothing compared to the chill of the Atlantic. Even in early September, the ocean was never warm. I felt myself sinking, and I struggled to the surface.

"When I cleared the water and the hair from my eyes, I realized I couldn’t see anything. The fog was so thick that I could not see the ship. Panic set in. I could swim, but if I could not see, I would not know in which direction to head. I could hear shouts and the sounds of the bell, but I could not get my bearings. To make matters worse, I was convinced that something had brushed against my leg. I was sure that I was about to become a shark’s lunch."

"Did ya?" Erik leaned back so he could look into his uncle’s eyes.

Ed just raised an eyebrow, while Adam scoffed.

"No, Erik, not that time, anyway." Ed tried to not smile. "Well, all those thoughts took about a minute. I heard a mighty splash next to me, and the next thing I knew, I could hear Ben’s voice right beside me.

"’I’m here!’ I shouted. I reached out toward his voice, and I could feel him grab me. ‘I’ve got him!’ Ben shouted, and then we were both hoisted into the air. Your father had thought to tie a rope about his waist before he dove after me. The sailors hauled us onto the deck. I lay as a fish gasping for air. Ben stood but before he could untie himself, the Captain had grabbed him and proceeded to whale the tar out of him. Then the Captain shoved Ben aside, and dragged me to my feet. When he was done with me, he turned back to your father. ‘What were you thinking, you stupid boy? How could I face your father if you both drowned?’ The Captain was shaking with rage. Ben stood as straight as he could and shouted back at the Captain. ‘I was thinking, sir, that I could not face my mother had I let my brother drown!’"

Ed looked down at Adam. "Your grandfather Stoddard had a fierce temper. That was the first time we felt it, but, regrettably, not the only time!" He looked at his brother before leaning toward Adam slightly. "That was definitely the first time your father yelled at the Captain, but I have it on good authority that it was not the last."

Ben hrumpfed. "All right, boys, enough stories. To bed with you!"

"Uncle Ed, would ya come tell us another story?"

"No, he won’t. To bed, Erik." Ben clapped his hands, and both boys jumped. They hurriedly said their goodnights and scooted down the hall to their room.

Kate stood and stretched. "I think I’ll say my goodnights as well. Thank you, Marie, for a lovely day." She leaned over to kiss Ben on the cheek. "Good night, Benjamin." She glanced over at Ed and gave a little nod. Ed took the hint. He rose.

"Good night, Ben, good night, Marie." He followed his wife down the hall.

Ed stripped off his shirt as Kate readied herself for bed. She sat in the chair in front of the little mirror and held out her brush. Ed grinned as he hurried to take it from her.

"And how was your visit with Marie’s sister?" He took out the pins and watched as the red tresses cascaded down his wife’s back.

Kate shook her head impatiently. "Glory be, that one. The lady of the manor, she is. How a woman like Marie has a sister like Jeanette, I don’t know!"

Ed slowly brushed Kate’s hair as she continued to talk. "A grand house, and servants and the good dishes. And you should hear her talk about Ben and his sons!"

Ed stopped brushing at that. "What did she say?"

Kate waved her hand. "Oh, sure and it’s not so much what she said as how she said it. Disparagin’ your brother for being a shop owner, she was, as though that’s not a good job. Commentin’ on the boys’ latest mischief, as if Marie wasn’t able to raise them proper." She leaned back to look at her husband. "I tell you, Eddie, I would’ve told her what for, but I didn’t want to embarrass Marie."

Ed opened his mouth to speak, but Kate kept talking. "Do you know, Eddie, that Ben and Marie have never had a honeymoon? Never been away from the boys, for some time alone."

"No, I didn’t know that." He leaned down to kiss her.

She turned to face him. "I’m thinkin’ that they should go now, when we’re here. We can watch the boys, and you can mind the store."

"Are you thinkin’ that, my love? Sure, and I think it’s a fine plan. I’ll speak to Ben in the morning."

Ed was surprised at Ben’s enthusiasm for the plan. He thought he’d have to do more to convince his brother, but Ben nodded gratefully.

"That would be wonderful, Ed, I can’t thank you enough. Marie doesn’t complain, of course, but it would be nice for us to have a few days to ourselves. And it’s a good time at the store; things are a little slow right now." Ben grabbed his brother’s hand and shook it heartily. "Thank you. I’ll make the arrangements today."

Ben spoke to his partner, who allowed as it wouldn’t be a problem right then. Ben took some time at lunch to make arrangements, and when he came back, he couldn’t stop talking about the trip to Natchez that he had planned.

The two brothers headed home that evening in high spirits. They detoured through the Plaza so that Ben could buy some flowers for Marie, and they were having a grand time until Ed stopped short.

"Here. What’s this?" He leaned close to read a sign that had been posted. "List of 24 Rice Field Neg…" He pivoted toward Ben. "Good God, Ben, this is an advertisement for a slave auction."

Ben nodded, his good humor gone. "Yes. They happen at the Exchange."

"But this is an abomination!" Ed reached toward the sign as though to rip it down, but Ben grabbed his hand away.

"Don’t."

"Don’t?" Ed yanked his hand from Ben’s grasp. "Don’t? Do you condone this…this evil?"

Ben glanced around. "If you love me, Ed, you will curb your tongue."

"Curb my tongue? As I witness this scourge, this…" Ed’s voice rose in volume and Ben frantically grabbed at his brother’s hand. Ed did not stop speaking, but he did lower his voice. "Ben, you can’t expect me to stay silent! When I was in Boston, I heard Lloyd Garrison sp…"

"Edward!" Ben’s tone was sharp. "If you love your nephews, you will not say that name in public!" Ben’s tone became almost pleading. "Let us go home and there you may say what you will."

The two men hurried down the crowded streets, neither speaking. They didn’t even look at each other until they had entered the Cartwright home. Ben led the way to the parlor and turned to face his brother.

Ed exploded in fury. "How dare you silence me in the street like that!"

Ben’s face flushed. "I am sorry, brother, but it is safer to keep abolitionist thoughts to oneself."

"Safer?" Ed threw his hands in the air, disgusted with Ben. "Safer? Ben, that is an abomination and you know it!"

Ben scowled. "Of course I know it, but we who believe that are in the minority here!" He spun on his heel and looked at the empty fireplace.

Ed was shocked. "In the minority? Since when has a Cartwright been concerned with the beliefs of others when they are on the side of right?" He threw his hands in the air. "Grandfather and Uncle John, and their father – were they concerned about the opinions of others when they threw the tea in the harbor? Or when Uncle John kept the cannon against British attack during the last war?" Ed grabbed Ben’s arm and spun him around. "Of all people, I would not expect silence from you!"

Ben stood with his face inches from his brother’s face. "You don’t know what it’s like here."

"I know you condone this vile deed by your silence."

Ben turned away again. "You’re a fool!"

"Better a fool than a coward!" Ed practically spit the words out.

Ben whirled around and grabbed Ed by the collar. The two men raised fists, but a sudden stinging caused them to jump.

Marie, eyes ablaze, stood beside them, a shutter slat in her raised hand. "Arrete! Maintenant!"

The brothers, both breathing heavily, stepped apart and stared at her briefly. Ben grabbed the slat from his wife, and, glaring at his brother, snapped it over his knee. Casting it in the fireplace, he stormed from the room.

"Kathleen!" Ed’s shout brought her from the doorway where she had been standing, shielding the boys from the argument. Ed turned toward the guest room, but paused as he heard Marie speak to the boys.

"Adam, take your brother for a walk, please. Be home in an hour."

"Yes, ma’am."

Ed glanced at his nephews, Adam, pale and wide-eyed, Erik, hunched and in tears. Ed grabbed the doorjamb as a wave of remorse left him shaking. He turned to speak to them, but they were gone.

Ed stumbled into the room, and sat on the bed, head in hands. "Oh, God, what have I done?" He stood when Kate entered the room. "Pack our things, Kate. I think we’ve outstayed our welcome."

She stood in front of him, hands on her hips, head tilted so she could see him. "I’ll not."

He sighed as he scrubbed his face with his hand. "Please, for once, do as you’re told."

"As I’m told? As I’m told?" Her voice grew shrill. "And are you Lord Edward, that I must do as I’m told?" Her face was almost as red as her hair. "I’m not ready to leave."

Ed’s temper flared. "I didn’t ask if you were ready, wife. I told you to pack!"

Kate’s arms flew wide. "Oh, ‘tis tremblin’ I am!" She poked at his chest. "First you’ll tell me what this was about."

Ed fell back onto the bed and told her about the auction advertisement and Ben’s attempt to silence him. "I just don’t understand him."

Kate leaned against the headboard. "Sure, and it’s you I’m not understanding."

"Me?"

"Aye. Have you not seen what they do to people who speak against slavery? Marie told me of a man from Tennessee. He had some anti-slavery pamphlets. A vigilante group flogged him. They wanted to kill him. Is that what you want? Your brother dead, Marie a widow?"

Ed made to speak but she jabbed her finger at him. "No, me boy-o. You’ll listen to me. Now, I’ve not known your brother long, but I know you. Do you not think it pains him to stay silent? Do you not know how it tears at a man, to watch things happen, knowin’ he should speak, but can’t?

"How long have I watched my da keep silent, knowin’ he’d like to do nothin’ more than stuff the sod down the landlord’s throat? I’ve watched my mother wear out her knees, prayin’ that Seamus will stay out of the way of the English." She sat next to him and took his hand in hers.

"Eddie, if I were a bettin’ woman, I would bet that your brother would be the first to fight for abolition if he only had himself to think of. But he has a wife and sons to protect. He needs to think of them first." She hesitated. "’Tis something you’ll understand more, come the new year."

Ed sat a minute, thinking over Kate’s words. She was making sense. He thought back to the two boys, standing frightened in the doorway. He nodded to himself. A man would do much to protect his… Ed’s head shot up. "What did you say?"

She smiled shyly. "I said you would understand your brother better when you are a father, sometime before the new year." She shrugged. "I would rather have told you at a happier time."

"I’m going to be a father?" Ed sat up straighter.

"Aye."

"You mean, you’re with child?" Ed couldn’t fathom what she was saying.

She raised an eyebrow. "And is there another woman who could make you a father?"

He shook his head as he drew her to him for a kiss. "You’re the only one, my love." He stood, a silly grin on his face. "I’ve got to tell Ben!" He headed toward the door, but spun about. "You’re all right? Not ill? I’ve heard that some women…"

"A little ill in the morning, but that will pass." She smiled at him as he turned toward the door before spinning around again.

"Do you want anything? Can I get you something?"

Kate laughed. "I’m fine. Go find your bother and apologize."

Ed looked puzzled. "Apologize? Oh. Right."

He hurried down the hall, glancing at the parlor and dining room, but both rooms were empty. He heard the sound of axe hitting wood, and he stepped out the back door. Ben was apparently working out his anger on the wood – there would be no need for Adam to do this chore for a month.

Ben stopped as his brother approached. Setting the axe against the chopping block, he waited.

Ed stepped toward him warily, hand extended. "I am a fool, brother, but you are no coward. I most humbly beg your forgiveness for my words."

Ben regarded him for a long minute, and then took his brother’s hand. "Do you remember what Uncle John used to say? Between brothers, there is always forgiveness, Eddie."

Ben gestured toward the bench, and the two brothers sat. Ben leaned back against the wall of the house, while Ed leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.

"Abolition is a dangerous belief in an area in which wealth is made from the work of slaves." Ben spoke slowly, almost to himself. "Even those who do not own slaves often support the institution itself. We in the minority must do what we can to undermine slavery without bringing attention to ourselves."

Ed glanced back at his brother. "How do you do that?"

Ben tilted his head to one side. "Do you remember Cicero?"

"Aye."

"He is a former slave. Many men won’t employ them, but I do. Not as many as I would like, but I cannot be obvious. To do so would threaten harm not only to me, but to the men I employ." Ben leaned forward. "Marie and I also do what we can to aid the families of freed Negroes, and even some of the families still enslaved." Ben stood abruptly.

"Ed, I would like to stand up and shout my opposition. Every night I beg God’s forgiveness for my silence. But if I did shout, if I did agitate, I would be dead, and there would still be slaves." Ben gestured around him. "I am not alone right now, Ed. I have a wife and sons, and they must come first. These people who support slavery, they would think nothing of hurting Marie, or Adam or Erik. I cannot allow that to happen through my actions." Ben’s voice dropped. "I could not survive another loss, Eddie."

Ed stood beside Ben, his hand resting lightly on Ben’s arm. "Kate told me as much as she burned my ears." Ed hesitated, and smiled diffidently. "She also told me that would be something I would understand better by year’s end."

Ben glanced at his brother, a half-smile dancing on his face. "You’re to be a father?"

Ed felt himself flush. "Ah-yuh, I am." He tugged at his collar. "And I am quaking in my boots, brother."

Ben pulled Ed into an embrace. "Congratulations, Ed!"

"Thank you, Ben. For everything."

Ben’s smile assured Ed that his older brother knew what he was trying to say.

"And now I must go apologize to Marie." Ed glanced around. "Where are the boys? I…I would like to speak with them as well, to explain myself."

Ben nodded. "All right. Marie sent them for a walk I think. They should be home shortly."

Ed started toward the kitchen, and suddenly turned back to Ben. "We’re…we’re all right, Ben, aren’t we?"

Ben smiled, spit in his hand and held it out. Ed’s grin split his face as he, too, spit in his hand, and shook Ben’s.

Marie was quick to accept Ed’s apology, saying she understood the frustration that he felt, for she felt it as well, but when he thanked her, she looked surprised.

"Pourquoi? Why?"

"For stopping me from hitting Ben. I would not have forgiven myself had I done that." He laughed. "You know, our mother would stop the fights the same way, although she used a switch instead of a shutter slat."

"You and Benjamin fought frequently?"

Ed shook his head. "Not so much. John and I did. Ben often ended up in the middle trying to stop us."

The door opened and Kate stepped in. "The boys are back, Eddie. Ben asked me to tell you."

Ed nodded as he headed toward the house. He stopped to kiss Kate lightly before closing the door softly behind him. He was struggling to decide what he would tell the boys, and he was surprised at how nervous he was.

Ben and his sons were waiting in the parlor. Ben was settled into the armchair, while Adam and Erik, still looking upset, sat close together on the sofa. Ed winced to see that both boys had obviously been crying, and he hurried across the room to kneel in front of them.

"I have apologized to your father for losing my temper, and now I would like to apologize to you." Both boys continued to stare at him, and he glanced to Ben. "Your father has forgiven me," and Ben nodded. Ed stood. He picked Erik up, settled onto the sofa next to Adam, and placed Erik on his lap. He wrapped one arm around Erik and draped the other over Adam’s shoulder, pulling him close.

Both boys looked to their father as Ed continued speaking.

"I behaved badly today; I lost my temper, I did not allow your father to speak, and I almost struck him. You saw that, and I am sorry that you did. When we were boys, our great-uncle John used to tell us that between brothers, there must always be forgiveness. I’m hoping that there is also forgiveness between an uncle and his nephews."

"Sure, Uncle Ed!" Erik threw his arms around Ed’s neck and hugged him tight. Ed enjoyed the close feeling for a minute before turning to Adam. He wasn’t surprised to see a more wary look on Adam’s face. The boy seemed to think for a minute until he nodded slowly.

"I forgive you, Uncle Ed."

Ed closed his eyes as he said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. "Thank you, boys."

The next few days flew by. Ben and Ed were busy at the store, getting ready for Ben’s absence. The evening before Ben and Marie were to leave, when the brothers were walking home for supper, Ed stopped suddenly.

"Oh, glory!"

Ben turned, a concerned look on his face. "What’s wrong?"

Ed winced. "Marie’s leaving."

Ben grinned. "That’s generally the point of a honeymoon, brother. It won’t be as much fun if I go alone."

Ed shook his head. "You don’t understand. That means Kate will be cooking."

Ben’s laughter drew the attention of passersby. "Brother, I’m going to give you some advice. You’re a married man, and you need to eat your wife’s cooking or starve."

"Nope." Ed was emphatic. "I’m going to hire a cook."

"Well, for this week, you’ll need to eat your wife’s cooking, or eat out every night. I’ll warn you, if you take Erik with you, that can get expensive."

The whole family was up early the next morning to bid farewell to Ben and Marie. Ben was busy giving Ed last minute instructions for the store while Marie and Kate were making sure she had everything packed. Ben had already decided they would say their good-byes to the boys at home rather than let the boys accompany them to the dock.

Ed watched as Ben spoke to the boys one last time. "Now, remember, you are to obey your aunt and uncle as you would obey your mother and me. I’ve already told Uncle Ed that he may deal with misbehavior in anyway he decides is appropriate. Do you understand?"

Both boys nodded vigorously as Ed tried to hide a smile. He didn’t anticipate any problems with his nephews.

Ed helped Ben and Adam put the bags on the carriage, and then he stepped back while Ben and Marie said good-bye to the boys. Erik flung his arms around Marie’s neck as she bent down to kiss him. Ed couldn’t hear what she said to the boy, but he could see Erik nod and smile before kissing his stepmother on the cheek. Ben gave Adam a hug, and reached out to ruffle Erik’s hair. Ed frowned as he watched Marie reach out to pat Adam’s arm, only to have the boy stiffen at her touch.

They waited until the carriage was out of sight before heading into the courtyard. Ed was going to work, and he needed to make sure the boys would be occupied during the day. He was concerned that Kate wasn’t feeling well this morning. She had protested that she was all right, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

"Adam, Erik, do you know what chores to do today?"

Adam answered for them both. "Yes, Uncle Ed. We’re to chop the wood and kindling, help Aunt Kate with the dishes, and weed the garden. And we need to do our lesson."

Ed smiled. "Good boy. Erik, I’ll see you this evening, you behave for your aunt."

"Yes, sir, I sure will!" He ran inside when Ed waved toward the door. Adam remained, looking at his uncle curiously.

Ed gestured toward the bench and indicated that Adam should sit. "Adam, when I’m at the store, you are the man of the house." He smiled slightly as the boy sat straighter. "I’m counting on you to help out, and to keep your brother out of trouble." Ed hesitated. "You see, your aunt isn’t feeling all that well right now because she’s with child."

Adam nodded earnestly, and for the first time, Ed saw a strong resemblance to Ben. "I’ll take care of her, Uncle Ed, don’t you worry."

"I know you will. Now, you know the way to the store, don’t you, in case you should need to fetch me?"

Adam nodded again, and Ed stood. "Good. I’ll see you this evening."

The day at the store passed without incident, and Ed found himself home a little early. He was pleased to see that the boys had accomplished all their chores, and that Kate was in a good mood, and feeling better than she had that morning. She grinned at him as he came in the kitchen.

"And what did you tell Adam this morning? He’s been fussin’ over me like an old lady."

Ed shrugged. "I just reminded him he was the man of the house whilst I was at work. You had a good day, then?"

"Aye. They’re good lads, well behaved. Now let me finish supper." Ed must have made a face, for she shook her spoon at him. "I’ll have you know that Marie has been teaching me some cooking."

Ed didn’t think they had been in New Orleans long enough to improve Kate’s cooking, but he decided to keep his mouth shut and go look for the boys.

He changed his mind when Kate served a simple stew and freshly baked bread. "Katie, this is delicious!"

She merely smiled, and gave him a second helping.

That evening Ed told a story about his first year sailing. When he was done, he offered to read a story to Erik, but the boy shook his head. Erik, in his nightshirt and his face freshly scrubbed, hurried to his aunt’s side, resting his hands lightly on her knees. Ed watched with amusement as Kate opened her arms and Erik climbed onto her lap.

"Aunt Kate?"

Kate’s contentment was obvious to Ed; she was enjoying her role as much as he was. "Aye, lad?"

"Would you read to us tonight? You haven’t read to us yet, and I’d like you to."

Kate’s look of contentment changed to panic, but she quickly recovered and smiled down at her nephew. "Well, Erik, I’m tellin’ you that where I come from, stories from books are all well and good, but the best stories are the ones that are told by the old folk to the young."

Erik giggled. "You’re not old, Aunt Kate!"

Ed grinned wryly. Smart answer, Erik.

"No, lad, I’m not, and I thank you for noticin’, but I am older than you. In my house it was me Da or me Uncle Liam that would tell the stories, but they’re not here. So I’m thinkin’ it would be all right if I told them, even if I’m not old." She gathered Erik into her arms and rose. She glanced over her shoulder at Adam. "Are ya comin’ lad?"

Adam glanced at his uncle. "No, ma’am, I need to talk with Uncle Ed first."

Ed watched the two of them go down the hall, and he could hear Kate asking Erik if he liked giants. He turned to his nephew.

"She’s going to tell the story of Finn mac Cumhail, and the Giant’s Causeway. That’s an impressive sight." Ed ran his hand over his mouth. "Now then, Adam, why did you need to speak with me?" He looked at the boy a minute. "You’re not in trouble, are you?"

Adam shook his head. "No sir." Adam glanced down the hallway and then turned his attention to Ed. He leaned close to his uncle. "Aunt Kate can’t read, can she?"

Ed winced. "Why do you think that, Adam?"

"On accounta Erik asked for help with his lesson and she told him to ask me. And then, when she was cookin’, she was trying to remember an ingredient, and when I suggested she look at…" Adam hesitated a second. "I suggested she look in the recipe book, and she just smiled."

Ed glanced down the hallway to make sure Kate was occupied, and then turned his attention to Adam. "There are no public schools in Ireland, Adam. Your aunt was never taught to read. But you mustn’t say anything, for she’s ashamed. She won’t even let me help her."

Adam looked confused. "There’s no school here, but I know how to read."

Ed nodded. "That’s because your father taught you, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir. And he taught Erik, too. Only I’m helping with Erik. And so’s…you know."

"Your stepmother?"

Adam nodded again.

"You can call her Ma, you know. Like Erik does."

Adam’s face clouded over, and he shrugged. Ed decided he’d best get to safer territory.

"At any rate, you can read because you’ve been taught, just as I was. But in Aunt Kate’s village, the only Irish person who can read is the priest. He’s starting to teach some of the youngsters, but Kate’s father didn’t see the need." Ed well remembered her father’s rantings on the subject. He didn’t need to know how to read, and his father didn’t. Nothing Ed could say would change the man’s mind on the subject, so finally Ed had been silent.

Adam looked thoughtful, then bade his uncle good-night. Ed drew him in for a kiss, gratified that the boy still allowed it.

That night, Kate lay on her back in bed, a half smile on her face. Ed finished washing his hands and crawled into bed, resting on his side, his head propped on his hand as he looked down at her.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

"Being alone with the boys, you mean?" Her smile widened. "Aye, I do. I find myself wonderin’ what it’ll be like, to be a mam. "

Ed caressed her swelling waistline. "You shall be a fine mother, my love. ‘Tis a lucky boy growing in there."

She raised an eyebrow. "So sure you’ve a son, are you? And why not a wee daughter, to tug at her da’s heart."

Ed had to admit the idea of a daughter appealed to him, but he faced facts as he laughed heartily. "Kate! Haven’t you noticed? We have to import our women. There hasn’t been a female Cartwright born into the family in three generations!" He pulled her toward him for a hug. "No, my love, it’s a son that you’re carrying."

She snuggled close to him. "And what will you be wanting to name this fine strapping lad?"

Ed thought a minute. It hadn’t occurred to him that he could name a child. Such a responsibility! It had to be a fine name, for a fine man. "Would you mind Joseph?"

"For your father?" Kate nodded. "All right, then, but if this babe is a girl, we’ll name her for my mother."

"Fair enough. Anna Cartwright would be a lovely name." Ed kissed Kate before he rolled over to blow out the lamp. "But the babe’s a boy. I know."

Ed spent the weekend with the boys. They stuffed themselves at the Plaza on Saturday, and he bought them toys and books at the market. He hoped his brother wouldn’t notice the new possessions until after Ed and Kate left. On Sunday, they took a long hike to Chalmette, where the Battle of New Orleans had taken place, and on the way home, Adam showed his uncle where Lafitte’s blacksmith shop was. By this time Erik was on his uncle’s shoulders, exhausted from the long walk.

Ed regaled the boys with stories of playing pirates. It had been a favorite game of the Cartwright boys when they were on the Cape during the summer. He even told them of the time that Father had played with them, and had climbed a tree pretending it was a ship’s mast. Poor Father had fallen from the tree and sprained his wrist, and Mother and Uncle John had teased him for a week.

Monday evening found Ed in the wingback chair in front of the fireplace, reveling in the solitude that comes of being the only one awake. Kate had put young Erik to bed after Ed had told a story from his sea-faring days, and then she too had retired for the evening.

Adam had been sent to bed during supper. Ed had had to reprimand the boy for pushing Erik as the boys rushed to the table. After the scolding, Adam had become petulant and eventually his mood had degraded into sulking. Ed would not abide sulking. The boy had earned the reproof and Ed refused to feel guilty.

Ed sighed. Adam had been so well behaved during his father’s absence. Indeed, if Ed were being honest, he would have to admit that he and his brothers had routinely taken advantage of their father’s absence to get into mischief. He grinned. Not that they actually got away with much.

He reached for his pipe, marveling, not for the first time, how much like Lizzie Adam was. He looked like her, he sometimes sounded like her. One look at the boy’s sketches and Ed realized that Adam had inherited his mother’s artistic talent. Ed laughed when he thought about the art teacher Liz had had when he was living with the Stoddards. The man was an oaf, even if he did come highly recommended from some society friend of Mrs. Stoddard’s. But Liz had known how to get rid of him, and Ed had happily gone along, even though it had meant a severe lecture from Mrs. Stoddard. Still, he shrugged, it could have been worse. The Captain could have been home. Even Lizzie wouldn’t have played such a trick if her father had been on shore.

Most of all, though, Adam was as stubborn as his mother had ever been. No, Ed thought. Liz’s stubbornness had combined with Ben’s stubbornness, and the result was a little boy who refused to change his mind. He blew a ring of smoke, and admired it as it drifted toward the door. How could he convince Adam that it would be all right to love Marie? But, Ben had changed his mind sometimes when they were boys. And if he really thought about it, Ed might be able to recall of a time that Liz had changed her mind. Then again, Ed thought ruefully, maybe not. He closed his eyes, lost in the memories of his beloved childhood friend.

His eyes flew open at the soft sound by his side. Adam stood there, head downcast, looking at his uncle from the tops of his eyes.

"I thought you were asleep." Ed’s voice was gruffer than he had intended, and Adam shifted nervously.

"I was. I came to apologize, sir, for my attitude at supper." The boy wiped his hands on his nightshirt.

Ed nodded. "You know, neither of your grandfathers would tolerate sulking."

Adam blushed slightly. "No, sir. Neither does Pa."

Ed grinned at that. "Really? Too bad he didn’t feel that way when we were boys. Would have saved him a lot of grief." Ed shrugged. "But it was your Uncle John that sulked most."

Adam looked up at that, smiling shyly, and Ed laughed. "What is it about boys and hearing of their father’s mischief?" He reached out and ruffled Adam’s hair. "I forgive you, Adam. Let’s not say more about it." He held out his arms, and after a moment’s hesitation, Adam climbed onto his lap.

"Uncle Ed?"

"Ah-yuh?"

"Would you tell me a story?" The boy’s voice was quiet, as though fearful his uncle would say no.

Ed thought a minute. By rights, he should send the boy back to bed; Adam had been disrespectful today, and shouldn’t be rewarded with a story. And yet, he had apologized and had been forgiven.

"About your father as a boy, perhaps?" Ed could feel the boy nodding against his chest, and he thought for a minute before wrapping his arms tighter about his nephew. "How about a story of your mother, instead?" He looked down as the boy looked up.

"Yes, sir, I’d like that. I keep forgetting you knew my mother."

Ed smiled softly. "Knew her and loved her as a sister since we were nine, Adam." How he had loved her – but the boy didn’t need to know that.

"Your mother was the kindest, most gentle woman that I knew, but she was stubborn."

"That’s what Pa says."

Ed laughed out loud, and then paused for fear he’d woken the house. "He’s a fine one to talk. I don’t know which of your parents was more stubborn, or who had the fiercest temper.

"You know that after my parents died, I lived with the Stoddards until the Wanderer came to port?" Again he felt Adam nod. "Your mother and I became even better friends than we had been before, and we used to get into mischief together. We would wander about Boston, looking in the shop windows, or pretending to be Minutemen on the Common. Boston was a grand city to be a child in, just as New Orleans is."

Ed smiled. "Being with your mother was the best thing that could have happened to me. When my parents died, both your father and your Uncle John were out to sea, and our great-uncle John was very ill, so I had no relatives to care for me. Your grandmother Stoddard, as gracious a woman as I ever knew, took me into her home until the Captain made port."

Ed paused to collect his thoughts. "I felt so sorry for myself when my parents died. I was sure nothing would ever be right again." He stroked Adam’s hair when the boy nodded in understanding. "All I wanted to do was sit in my room, and be alone. But your mother would not tolerate that. She was only a few months younger than me, you know, and she insisted that we go explore Boston, or have fun with some of her neighborhood friends.

"I soon shook the worst of my melancholy, and I even found myself having fun. I got into more mischief than I had since your father went to sea." Ed chuckled. "I remember one time, your mother decided we should go look at a ship. She had been on it once, as her cousin was an officer on board. It was a warship, and I think the biggest ship I had ever seen. It was called Old Ironsides-"

"I’ve heard of that!" Adam almost jumped from his uncle’s lap. "It’s the Constitution and it’s called that because during battle, the cannonballs bounced from its side and the men shouted ‘huzzah, her sides must be made of iron!’"

Ed was not surprised that his brother’s son would know naval history. Certainly Ben had read enough of it as a boy. He nodded approvingly. "That is quite right, Adam. Anyway, your mother had been on board once, when she and her mother received a tour from her mother’s cousin. So, she determined that she and I should sneak on board so that I might see it.

"And sneak we did. We explored the ship unmolested for all of ten minutes, and saw very little before we were caught and hauled before the senior officer on board that afternoon. As luck would have it, it was your grandmother’s cousin, so he knew right away who Liz was. He made us sit until his watch was over, which was more than a few hours, and then he dragged us home. He was very angry, and he held me to blame, as I was the male, and should have more sense. He felt it very ungentlemanly of me to give any blame to your mother, and when he presented us to your grandmother, he offered to cane me, so as to save her the bother.

"Well, my heart was in my throat, you may be sure. This was a naval officer, and not a small man. I almost cried with relief when your grandmother politely thanked him but allowed that she knew what to do with misbehaving children.

"By the time she was done with us, I wished she had allowed the man to cane me and be done with it. I could not tell you how long her lecture lasted, but I can assure you that I had not heard a sterner one from my father, nor would I hear a sterner one from the Captain. Then, she confined us to her view for two weeks. If she were in the kitchen, we had to be in the kitchen. If she were in the parlor with guests, we must sit quietly in the parlor. We couldn’t even go to the privy without her. It was the longest two weeks of my life."

"And you never got to see the ship." Ed had to stifle his laugh at Adam’s sigh. Leave it to a boy to understand that there was no worse tragedy than punishment when you did not get to complete the mischief.

"No, I didn’t. But we got into more mischief before the Captain came back." Ed paused, not sure how to say what he needed to say so that the boy would understand. He decided not to couch his words. "Adam, your mother was one of the most loving people I have ever met." Ed sighed as he felt the pang of envy over his brother’s good fortune at having wed Lizzie Stoddard.

"When she found out that she was with child, she was beside herself with joy. She told us all that she would have a son…" Ed fought back the tears that threatened to cloud his eyes. "She said that she would have a son, and that she would name him Adam. And here you are."

Adam’s eyes were glittering as he looked up at Ed. "Pa says she loved me."

Ed nodded. "Very much so. You know, she couldn’t bear to see sadness." He shifted the boy slightly, for his leg had gone numb. "Her greatest concern was for your father’s happiness, and then for your happiness." He could feel Adam stiffen slightly. "What I am trying to say, Adam, is that your mother would not be hurt if she knew that you were happy. From what your father tells me of Inger, I think she would feel the same way. If you love Marie, it doesn’t mean that you don’t love your mother, or Erik’s mother." He held fast to Adam when the boy tried to wiggle off his uncle’s lap.

Finally the boy stilled, and was so quiet that Ed began to think he had fallen asleep. Ed was starting to doze as well when Adam’s voice pulled him to awareness.

"Uncle Ed?" Adam twisted so he could look at his uncle. "Uncle Ed, will you tell me more stories about my mother?"

"Will you think about what I said?"

Adam hesitated, and then nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Then I shall tell you so many stories that you shall weary of me!" He ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately. "But not, I think, tonight." Gathering Adam in his arms, Ed rose from the chair, steadied the boy and carried him to bed.

The next few days flew by without incident. There was something afoot at home, though, for Adam and Kate would smile or wink at each other when they thought Ed wasn’t paying attention. Every night, after Erik went to bed, Ed would tell Adam another story about Liz, and every night Adam would go to bed with a thoughtful expression.

"He’s a thinker, that boy is, Ed." Kate had been knitting during Ed’s story. "You’ve planted some thought in his mind, and he’s turnin’ it over." She shifted slightly. "He’s been such a good boy these last days; I can see that he’s a considerate lad. I wouldn’t have thought it, the way he treats Marie sometimes."

Ed lit his pipe. "I think he’ll outgrow that soon enough. As you say, he’s a considerate boy, and she’s so good to him. I think he’ll realize that."

Finally it was the night before Ben and Marie’s scheduled return. Kate and Erik were setting the table, and Ed was helping Adam with his math work, when a loud knocking split the silence. Ed hurried to open the door.

"Cartwright?" A portly older man stood on the stoop.

"I’m Ed Cartwright, yes. Won’t you come in, Mister- ?" Ed stepped aside to allow the man to enter.

"I am Monsieur Beaumont. I live three streets over."

Ed had to strain to understand the man’s thick accent. M. Beaumont stood with his fists clenched to his side, like a pugilist ready to fight.

Adam came into the hallway and the visitor pointed. "There is the ruffian!" M. Beaumont strode toward Adam, arm outstretched, ready to grab the boy. Ed stepped between the two.

"What’s this about?" Ed worked to control his temper. "Explain yourself, Monsieur."

"That…that urchin and his friends destroyed my wife’s garden today. They snuck into our courtyard and ripped out her flowers!"

Ed’s eyes narrowed, and although he doubted Beaumont’s words, he turned to Adam. "Is that true?"

Adam paled. "No, sir. No sir, I sure didn’t."

Ed turned back to M. Beaumont. "You have your answer sir. Adam was not one of the vandals."

M. Beaumont threw his hands into the air. "The boy lies! He wishes only to protect himself."

Ed felt his control ebbing away. "Adam does not lie, sir. Now, if you will excuse us."

Kate stepped into the hallway just as Ed was seeing the man out. "Adam couldn’t have been one of the boys. He’s been here with me all day. Not left my sight, except for the odd minute or two."

Ed gestured toward his wife. "You see? It is impossible."

"Mon dieu! You take the word of this servant above that of a gentleman?"

Mindful of the youthful eyes watching, Ed held his punch as he spoke through clenched teeth. "My wife is no more a servant than you are a gentleman. Good evening, sir!"

Ed opened the door and practically shoved the man through it. As soon as the door was closed, he leaned against it to calm himself. When he felt in control again, he turned to face his family.

One look at her narrowed eyes told Ed that Kate was furious. She opened her mouth to speak, shook her head and stormed from the room. Ed grinned slightly. He should have stepped aside and let Kate at the man!

Adam stood wide-eyed. "Thank you, Uncle Ed."

"You’re welcome, lad, but for what?"

"For believing me."

Ed crossed the room and put his hand on his nephew’s shoulder. "You’ve given me no reason to doubt you, lad. I know you’re not the kind of boy who would do such a deed, just as I know that you would not lie to me."

Adam smiled shyly at his uncle. Ed glanced over at Erik, peeking out from the dining room, and he beckoned the boy to him.

"Let’s go see if your Aunt Kate needs some help. She was looking angry when she left, and I’d hate for that mood to slip down her arm and through the spoon into supper, wouldn’t you?"

Erik giggled. Adam just raised his eyebrow at his uncle.

"Glory, boy, you are the image of your father when you do that." And his grandfather. That was Father’s look when he saw through the boys’ whoppers. That raised eyebrow was their last warning to tell the truth.

Fortunately for the meal, the three Cartwright men were able to cajole Kate into a better mood. By the time she was done cooking, the hijinks between Ed and Erik had both her and Adam in stitches.

Ed started it by telling Erik about some of the strange animals he had seen when he had been sailing near Africa. The ship had stopped in Egypt, and Ed and some of his shipmates had taken a boat down the Nile to see the famed Pyramids. Whilst on the river, they saw so many unusual animals that Ed could not even name them all.

"The first one, Erik, was a hippopotamus. Have you heard of such a creature?"

Erik stared at his uncle, wide-eyed, and shook his head.

"Well, I cannot tell you what they looked like all around, for I saw only their backs and their heads, but that was enough for me." He reached for the little boy. "I think their heads were as big as you, and they could swallow you whole, if they chose!"

Erik looked around in a panic. "Adam, do them hipmatus live here?"

Adam rolled his eyes. "Nah. And it’s hippopotamus." He smiled smugly. "That means river horse."

Ed guffawed as he winked at Erik. "They looked like no horse I had ever seen." Ed poked Erik’s stomach gently. "Fortunately for you, boy-o, they eat only green things." Ed grabbed some of the spinach from the worktable and shoved it in his mouth, chewing it dramatically. Erik giggled, but Adam looked like he would gag.

"Not a fan of spinach, Adam?" Ed swallowed the last of the greens as he watched Adam shake his head. "I hate oatmeal myself. I got into more trouble with your grandmother because I refused to eat my oatmeal."

"What other animals did ya see, Uncle Ed? I mean, on the river."

"Well, Erik, we saw some odd birds." Ed looked thoughtfully at Adam. "In fact, I think they were tall and thin like Adam." Ed grinned. "They were remarkable when they took off in flight. And they walked like this." Ed took bobbing steps around the kitchen, raising his knees high, and flapping his arms dramatically. Erik giggled again, and began to mimic his uncle. "That’s it, Erik! You are a good ibis. That’s just how I saw them. And they ate like this." Ed bent down to pick up a piece of bread with his lips, but Kate smacked his backside with a wooden spoon. "Hey now! Ibises don’t get whacked!"

Kate grinned at him. "And I’ll warrant they don’t eat bread, either."

Ed rubbed his bottom as he turned to the boys. "Laughing at your old uncle getting a spanking are you? Just like your father!" He reached out to tickle Erik, but the boy danced away from him.

"What else did you see, Uncle Ed?"

"I saw snakes swimming in the water, and then we saw crocodiles. They had huge mouths." Ed opened his arms wide, to show the size. "I saw one gobble up a little boy who was laughing at his uncle!" Ed chased after Erik and grabbed him, swinging the boy lightly over his shoulder.

"Did ya see that for real, Uncle Ed? Did ya really see a crockydial eat a boy?" Erik’s voice sounded funny because he was hanging upside down.

"Ed, set the boy right before he gets sick." Kate brandished her spoon again, and Ed nodded.

"Yes, ma’am." Ed pulled Erik back over his shoulder and sat his nephew on the worktable.

"We gots crockydials here, Uncle Ed."

"Those are alligators, Erik, not crocodiles."

Ed almost laughed at the smugness in Adam’s voice and he leaned toward Erik. "Erik, do you know what crocodiles eat?"

Erik shook his head. "No, sir."

Ed reached out to snag Adam as he looked at Erik. "They eat know-it-all older brothers." Erik giggled, but Ed nodded solemnly. "That’s why neither your father nor Uncle John ever went to Egypt. They were afraid to!"

"Pa’s not afraid of nothing!" Adam wriggled out of Ed’s grasp.

"No, not now of course. But he was." Ed grinned. "I know for a fact that he was afraid of having snakes shoved down his shirt."

"Glory, and who wouldn’t be?" Kate rolled her eyes.

"You should have heard him screaming!" Ed laughed. "And they were only bitty snakes."

Adam stared at Ed, his mouth agape. "You shoved snakes in Pa’s shirt?"

Ed stood straight, hands on his hips. "It wasn’t just me. Lizzie put just as many down his shirt." He snickered some more. "Your father was asleep when we did it."

"What’d Pa do?"

"Well, when he felt the slithering, he leapt off the sand, and went screaming into the house. We were at Uncle John’s, you see."

Erik jumped up. "Did you get in trouble?"

Ed tugged at his collar. "Well, yes. We probably wouldn’t have, but your pa went running straight to Aunt May, and he whipped his shirt off. Those snakes fell on the kitchen floor, and she started screaming like she was being murdered. That brought Uncle John running." Goodness, but Uncle John had been angry. Not that Ed and Liz had played a joke on Ben, but that they had upset Aunt May. Not that pointing out that he had not intended to upset Aunt May had done Ed any good. In fact, it had made Uncle John angrier. That had been an error on Ed’s part and he had had to haul whale oil to the lamps for weeks.

Kate clapped her hands. "All right, my boys, everything’s ready. Who’ll help me carry the food?"

Ed was impressed by Kate’s cooking. She might not be preparing the meals like Marie, but her cooking was much better than it had been. Perhaps Marie had been right – all it needed was the spice.

Ed insisted that he and the boys would clean the dishes. Their high spirits continued in the kitchen, and Ed thought himself lucky that they didn’t break any dishes. Adam kept urging them to hurry, and Ed couldn’t understand why the boy was so adamant that Aunt Kate not be allowed to get lonely. In fact, after a day with those two boys, Ed could believe she wanted a few minutes to herself.

Adam practically dragged his uncle back into the house, and Erik was close on their heels.

"I forgot to show you something, Uncle Ed. C’mere."

Ed stopped short at the door to the dining room. Kate sat at the table, bent over. In a panic he stepped into the room.

"Katie, are you all right?"

She whirled about. "You startled me! I’m just finishin’ something for you." She glanced at Adam, and Ed looked down, surprised to see the boy grinning. Kate stood and held out her hand.

Ed took the paper that she offered and he glanced at it. Frowning, he realized he didn’t recognize the handwriting, and he stepped closer to the lamp.

"Dear Edward I love you your loving wife Kathleen Mary McLaughlin Cartwright."

He stared at the paper for a long minute before he understood the significance.

"Katie, did you do this?"

She nodded shyly, and then she looked to Adam and Erik. "The boys showed me." She shrugged. "I watched them do their lessons every day, and I couldn’t bear that they knew what those marks meant and I didn’t. I couldn’t bear the idea that I won’t be able to help our child, the way Marie helps the boys. It’s been our secret all this week." She pointed toward the note. "Did I do it right?"

Ed wasn’t sure he could speak, so he nodded.

Adam frowned as he looked at the note. "Aunt Kate, you forgot the commas and the periods."

"Adam!"

"No, Eddie, how am I to do it right if you’re not tellin’ me what I do wrong?"

Ed reached out and pulled her close. "I think it’s perfect, Kathleen Mary McLaughlin Cartwright."

Ben and Marie were scheduled to come home in the early afternoon, so Ed went to the shop that morning. He decided on impulse to take Adam with him. As they walked to work, Ed explained that Adam’s father and his uncles had all worked in the chandlery after school. Ed had been eight when he started working, just an hour or two a day.

"What kind of work did you do, Uncle Ed?"

Ed shrugged. "Whatever needed doing. I dusted shelves, helped fill orders, ran errands."

"Did you work hard?"

"I did." Ed nodded solemnly. "Father always said that a man is judged by his work and that a good man gives his best to a job."

Adam kicked a rock as they walked. "What work will I do today, Uncle Ed?"

"I think I shall need your help tidying the store, so that all is presentable when your father returns. Mr. Smythe will be there as well, and he might have some chores for you, too."

Adam didn’t disappoint Ed; the boy worked hard all morning, completing each task assigned to him, and even finding work to do when Ed was too busy to assign more. Ed was proud of Adam, and made a point of telling him so when he handed him his wages of two pennies.

Adam looked at his earnings thoughtfully before looking at his uncle. "Do you think Pa would let me work again?"

"I’m sure he will, once I tell him what a helper you are."

Adam puffed slightly before he hurried to walk beside Ed. "Think they’ll be home when we get home?"

Ed shook his head. "No. I don’t think the boat is scheduled to arrive until after our lunch. Anxious are you?"

Adam nodded. "Yes, sir. I miss them."

Ed smiled slightly. Apparently Adam missed his father and his stepmother.

"Uncle Ed, do you like sailing?"

"I did. I don’t miss it, though." He looked down at Adam. "Fancy it yourself?"

Adam shrugged. "I don’t know. I wonder what it’s like."

"Sailing’s in your blood. You can’t help but wonder about it, not with both your parents being sailors."

"Both?"

Ed was surprised. "Didn’t your father tell you? Your mother was born at sea, and she sailed with your grandfather until she was nine. In fact, she used to brag that she sailed longer than your father and I, for your father sailed only five or six years. Now I’ve gone past her, for I sailed for twelve years in all." Ed resolved to speak to Ben. Stories like that should not surprise the boy, no matter how hard they were for Ben to tell.

As they reached the gate of their home, Ed realized he was going to miss his quiet evenings with Adam. He had really grown fond of the boy – of both boys - and it was going to be hard to leave New Orleans. Sadness threatened to overwhelm him as he realized that day was drawing closer.

Ed and the boys had just finished cleaning the lunch dishes when they heard the jingle of a harness and the sound of a carriage door closing. Adam and Erik were out the door in a flash, with Kate and Ed staying back while the boys greeted their parents. Ed watched with a smile as both boys flung themselves at Ben. Ben bent to hug them and then Erik broke off to hug Marie as well. Adam stepped toward Marie, and for a minute Ed thought the boy was going to hug her. He didn’t, but whatever he said made Marie smile. Adam picked up his stepmother’s bag and lugged it into the house. Erik grabbed Marie’s hand and pulled her along, Ben following with his own bag.

"Welcome home, Marie. Welcome home, brother." Ed took the bag from Ben. "Did you have enjoy your trip, Marie?"

"Oui, a most pleasant trip. Thank you."

"The boys behaved?"

Adam took his father’s bag from his uncle as Ben asked the question. He paused, and did not relax until Ed told Ben that the boys were perfectly behaved. He was just about to take the bag to his parents’ room when his father stopped him.

"Just a minute, son. I think there might be something in the bag for you and Erik."

Erik danced from foot to foot, almost too excited to wait for his father to open the bag. Ed noted that Adam behaved with slightly more dignity.

Ben pulled out several toy soldier figures for Erik.

"Golly, Pa, thanks! Look, Uncle Ed. they’re just like the ones you got me. Now I gots a whole army! Thanks, Mama!"

Ed smiled at his nephew, and ignored his brother’s look. So much for hoping those presents stayed out of sight until Ed and Kate left New Orleans! Fortunately Ben didn’t say anything. Instead, he pulled a sketchpad and pencils from his bag and gave them to Adam.

"Thanks, Pa!" Adam turned to Marie. "Thank you, too, ma’am." He reached out with his free hand to touch his stepmother’s arm.

"You are welcome, Adam, but you must remember to show me the sketches, non?"

Adam smiled shyly. "Yes, ma’am, I will."

"Erik, help your brother with the bag, please." Ben gestured toward the bedrooms. He watched the boys go down the hallway, and then turned on his brother.

"What did you do with Adam?"

Ed shrugged. "Nothing."

Marie stood on her toes to kiss Ed’s cheek. "Merci, mon frere."

Ed ducked his head, blushing.

The family spent the rest of the day sharing stories about everybody’s week. Marie and Ben had had a wonderful trip, and they couldn’t thank Ed and Kate enough. For their part, the boys couldn’t keep from telling their parents about all the presents that Uncle Ed had bought them, and Ed spent a good part of the afternoon avoiding his brother’s glare.

Finally, it was late evening, and Ben and Ed were alone. The house was quiet except for Erik’s snores softly echoing. The two brothers sat with their pipes and their glasses of brandy.

Ed broke the silence. "I shall miss these evenings, when we leave."

Ben glanced quickly at Ed before looking away. "You’re planning to go then?"

"Soon, I think. I want to be settled in St. Louis before the baby comes."

Ben nodded as he blew out a ring of smoke. "You could stay, you know. Not with us, of course, you’ll want your own house. But you could stay in New Orleans."

Ed shook his head. "No, no I couldn’t. I’ve held my tongue on abolition out of concern for your safety, but I don’t know how much longer I can hold it."

Ben slapped the arms of the chair in irritation. "I don’t know why you think that it’ll be any better in St. Louis."

"I don’t. But I’ll be a few steps closer to the journey west." He smiled slightly. "You’ll be proud of me brother. I’ve been planning it a bit, in my mind. I don’t think we’ll go next summer, but we’ll wait until the baby is older."

Ben laughed. "You know, Eddie, Marie and I spent a lot of time talking, and I think we might just join you after all. The year after next sounds like very good timing."

Ed’s grin split his face. "That’ll be grand, Ben." He took a sip of brandy. "I’m going to miss those boys of yours. They are splendid lads."

Ben nodded his agreement. "I am a lucky man."

Ed waved his pipe toward Ben. "You know, brother, if you had said that before I came, I wouldn’t have believed you. But you are. You’ve had the love of three good women, and you have two fine sons."

Ben leaned forward in his seat. "All right, you never told me. What did you do with Adam while we were gone?"

Ed thought a minute. "I told him stories about Lizzie. You know, it’s funny, as I talked, I realized that Liz and Marie were a lot alike, and that Liz would have loved Marie for taking care of Adam the way she does. Maybe, just maybe, Adam is beginning to understand that, too."

Ben sighed. "I’ve found it so hard to tell those stories, Eddie. Thank you."

"Ben, I know they have to be hard for you. God knows, they were hard for me. But if you don’t fill Adam with stories about Liz, or Erik with stories about Inger, it’ll be like those women never lived. That would be a sin."

During the next few days, Adam accompanied his father and uncle to the chandlery every morning. Ed was convinced the boy got taller just by walking with the men to work. He noticed the boy’s relationship with Marie was getting better as well. Adam still didn’t call her anything but ‘ma’am’, but he was polite, and sometimes even relaxed with her.

Finally it came time to tell the boys that Uncle Ed and Aunt Kate would be leaving. Ben and Marie had thought it would be better to tell the boys only a few days before the actual event, and Ed had agreed. Adam and Erik’s reactions were as the adults expected it to be – tears, followed by more tears. Ed shed tears of his own, when he was alone with Kate that evening.

"Didn’t Marie say St. Louis is not that far by steamboat? Maybe we can visit." Kate sat on the bed with her arm around her husband.

"I don’t know, Katie. I just keep feeling like this is the last time I’ll see them all." Ed rubbed at his face to wipe the tears away.

She tapped his arm lightly. "Now, which of us has the Sight? I’m not seeing any such future for us."

Ed tried not to let her see him rolling his eyes. His wife’s assertions that she could see the future – the Sight, her people called it – were foolish to him, but he had learned early on that she believed it most earnestly. This was one time when he fervently prayed she was right.

Two nights before Ed and Kate were supposed to leave, Ben suggested that he and his brother go to a local tavern. Ed readily agreed, and the two men left the house shortly after supper.

Ed was surprised when Ben led him to a tavern close to the docks. In Ed’s experience, these were the seediest places. Then again, they were also the most interesting.

"It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place like this, Ben." Ed took off his hat as they entered the smoke filled common room. The great stone fireplace was empty, but the long tables were filled with men of all races and nationalities sitting elbow-to-elbow, drinking and smoking.

Ben grinned. "Do you remember the one you and John insisted I go to, just before I married Liz?"

Ed snorted. "I don’t remember the place, but I certainly remember how I felt the next day! Glory, Ben, I was surprised we made it home that night."

"Let’s see if we can stay out of a fight this time, shall we?" Ben gestured toward a long table with a couple of empty chairs.

"Mistah Cartwright, Mistah Edward."

Ed was surprised to see Cicero sitting across from him. "Cicero, how good to see you again!" Ed held out his hand as he settled into his seat.

Cicero smiled as he shook Ed’s hand. "Word is you’re leavin’ soon, Mistah Edward. We’re gonna miss you."

"Thank you, Cicero. I’ll be sorry to go, but I need to get to St. Louis." Ed grinned broadly. "My wife is with child, and I wish to be established before the baby comes."

Cicero returned Ed’s grin with one of his own. "I know ‘bout babies, Mistah Edward." He leaned over the table. "My wife’s gonna have our third any time now. Nothin’ like havin’ a child o’ your own! I seen you with Mistah Cartwright’s boys. You’re gonna be a good daddy."

"Thank you. Right now I’m a bit nervous." Ed nodded his thanks to Ben for the glass he brought over and Ben sat in the chair next to him.

"You’ll be fine, Mistah Edward. Miz Cartwright, she’ll be doin’ the hard work."

Ben laughed at that. "Speaking of wives, Cicero, how’s yours?"

"I was just tellin’ your brother here that baby’ll come any day now. Any day."

"Good! Be sure to let me know. Marie keeps asking about that baby, and it’ll be worth my hide to not pass along the news!"

Cicero introduced Ed to the other men sitting near them. Ed was surprised that Ben knew most of them already but before he knew what was happening, he had downed several beers and was swapping sailing stories with his new friends.

"Mon dieu, would you look at the riffraff at this table?"

Ed looked up and frowned when he saw Monsieur Beaumont, the man who had so insulted Kate and Adam a week earlier. The man shrugged.

"But perhaps I should expect to find such men as these Cartwrights here." He turned to his well-dressed companion and laughed. "That one married an Irish woman…" Ed held onto his brother, who was starting to rise. After all, Kate was Irish, and to call her such was not an insult. Beaumont pointed to Ben. "And that one married the Creole whore."

Ed launched himself across the table, reaching Beaumont moments before Ben did. Ed’s first punch sent Beaumont reeling into the wall, and his second forced the man to the ground. Beaumont’s friend grabbed Ed, spun him about and laid him flat with a punch to his eye. Ed could see Ben grab the second man and lay him low, but everything after that became a blur of flying fists and thrown furniture as many of the tavern’s patrons joined the fray.

Ed didn’t know how long the brawl lasted, but he felt himself dragged outside. Wiping the blood from his face, he could see Ben standing in front of him.

"Ed, are you all right?" Ben looked pretty bad – his eye was beginning to bruise, his lip was split and his shirt was ripped. A trickle of blood rolled down his left cheek.

"Do I look as bad as you?" Goodness knew he hurt. It had been a while since Ed had been in a tavern brawl, but he knew that his bruises had bruises.

Ben just nodded and pointed toward a water pump. "We’ve got to clean off before we get home."

"Considering I punished your boys that time for brawling, I think you’re right." Ed primed the pump handle and gestured for Ben to go first.

Ben groaned as he stuck his head under the flowing water. "I wasn’t even thinking of them. I was thinking of Marie." He stood, and wiped his face gingerly on his sleeve. He took his turn at the pump handle while Ed tried to clean up.

"You aren’t going to tell her about the fight, are you?"

"Eddie, take a look at me. I’m not going to have to say a word!" Ben groaned again.

"I mean, you’re not going to tell her why we fought, are you?"

"No." Ben bent down to help Ed stand. "No, although she might guess."

"Why the devil would she guess that?" Ed brushed the dirt from his trousers and the two men started for home.

Ed was surprised as Ben told the tale of Marie’s first marriage, and of her being ostracized from New Orleans society.

"Of course, marrying an American didn’t help her any."

Ed sniffed. "I beg to differ brother. I think it helped her a great deal!" He slapped Ben on the back. "But now I think we’d better think of an explanation for the wives."

Ben nodded. "At least we don’t have to explain ourselves to Father."

Ed twisted his lip, wincing as he did. "Truth-be-told, I think I’d rather."

To Ed’s surprise, Kate said nothing about the fight. She let Marie do the talking. And talk she did!

"Mon dieu, this I do not believe! Why do you do this thing? You tell your sons they must not fight! How will you explain this to them tomorrow?" Marie threw her hands in the air and stomped across the room. She took a breath, turned and threw her hands in the air again. "Enough. I will say no more. To bed with you both."

Kate waited until she and Ed reached the privacy of their room before she said a word.

"You’ve looked better, Eddie."

He groaned as she helped him remove his shirt. "I’ve looked worse, too." He winced as she dabbed a wet cloth on his cut face. "It couldn’t be helped, Kate,"

She rolled her eyes. "Aye, the men always say that."

"No, truly. That man, Beaumont, the one who was here the other day?" Kate nodded. "He insulted Marie. I won’t tell you what he said, but it was unconscionable." Ed saw no need to tell Kate that she, too, had been insulted.

Kate nodded. "I can imagine what he said. Marie’s told me of the problems she’s had, poor woman." She bent down to remove Ed’s boots. "I wish they’d come with us to St. Louis." She stood and grabbed Ed’s nightshirt. "C’mon, boy-o, trousers off."

Ed eased the nightshirt over his head and lay back on the bed, sighing. Glory, but he hurt! "I tried to talk Ben into coming west with us; I think he’s considering it, but not this year."

Kate tucked the sheet over her husband as she kissed him lightly on the lips. "Good night, my love."

Ed slept late the next morning. When he finally stumbled out for breakfast, he found that the boys had finished all their chores, and the family was seated at the table. He mumbled a quick apology for his tardiness to Marie and slid into his seat.

He didn’t know if Ben or Marie had talked to the boys, but neither of them mentioned their father and uncle’s black eyes and bruised faces. Ed suspected that Ben told Marie about the fight’s cause, for she was more solicitous of Ed than she had been the night before, and she didn’t seem angry with Ben anymore.

Ed had told the boys that he would spend his last full day in New Orleans however they wished to. It was Sunday, so Ben didn’t have to work, and both men were surprised when the boys decided to stay home.

"We can play games, Uncle Ed." Erik tried to smile, but Ed could see the boy’s lip quivering.

Adam chimed in. "And you can tell more stories."

Ed was starting to think he would run out of stories, but he somehow found a few that the boys hadn’t heard. He told them about finding whales washed up on shore, and about pirate treasure off Cape Cod, and about the summer months, when their father and his two brothers would spend the entire day playing on the beach. After supper, Erik crawled onto his lap, and Adam leaned against his knee. Ed told another story, and then looked at the two boys.

"You know, boys, you are very lucky young men."

"How’s that, Uncle Ed?" Adam tilted his head back to regard his uncle.

"You have each other." He glanced to Ben. "A man needs brothers." He ruffled Adam’s hair. "You’re never alone, as long as you have brothers."

Morning came too soon for Ed. He hadn’t slept much, and judging by Kate’s tossing and turning, she hadn’t either. Breakfast was a quiet meal, and the boys both had long faces. The adults tried to be cheerful, but they failed miserably.

Ben had arranged for a carriage to take Kate and Ed to the docks, and it arrived shortly after breakfast. Kate and Marie stood to one side, holding each other close as they watched Ed bend down to his nephews.

Erik threw himself into Ed’s arms. "I don’t want you to go, Uncle Ed."

Ed held the boy close and stroked his hair. "I know, lad, I know. But maybe it won’t be for long. We won’t be that far." He pulled back a little and wiped the tears from Erik’s face. "Be a good boy, and remember the stories I’ve told." He winked. "Just don’t tell your father what I’ve told you until I’m long gone, all right?"

Erik giggled as he nodded. Ed turned to Adam, and was surprised when Adam also threw himself into his uncle’s arms. "You’re the image of your mother, boy-o. Remember what I’ve told you."

"Yes, sir, I will."

Ed stood and kissed Adam lightly on the head.

Marie was next. "Until we meet again, mon frere."

Ed pulled her close. "Thank you, Marie, for your hospitality. And for taking care of my brother."

"It is my joy." She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

From the corner of his eye, Ed could see Ben hugging Kate. Now came the moment that Ed had been dreading. He turned to Ben, who held out his hand.

Ed stared a moment at his brother’s hand. It was a strong hand, capable of a solid punch, as Ed had occasion to know more than once in their youth. But more often than not, it had been extended in help and forgiveness and friendship. Truly Ed had been right when he told his nephews they would never be alone as long as they had brothers. Smiling, Ed took his brother’s hand, and the two men embraced. "God keep you, Ben."

"And you, little brother." Ben’s voice was ragged. "Write when you get to St. Louis."

Ed nodded. He hugged Ben once more, and stepped toward Kate.

"It’s time, my love."

Kate nodded, and took his hand as he helped her into the carriage. He climbed in and settled himself on the seat next to her. Ed took one last look at his brother, and after a quick wave, shut the door.